Alberta RCMP slapped more people with charges as it continues to investigate the Coutts Border Blockade. .A Friday press release said Fort Macleod town councillor Marco Van Huigenbos, Fort Macleod resident Alex Van Herk, and Taber resident George Janzen were charged with mischief over $5,000. .The release said the charges stem from the suspects being key participants in the Coutts Border Blockade. .All three were released and will appear in the Lethbridge Provincial Court October 4. .Alberta RCMP laid charges against a 39-year-old and 62-year-old male for their involvement. Those charges were withdrawn. .Van Huigenbos was reprimanded in April for what Fort Macleod Mayor Brett Feyter described as "unacceptable behaviour." .Feyter said he was troubled by the town councillor's involvement with the blockade. ."To be clear, council respects the rights of peaceful protest, but that does not extend to organizing an illegal blockade of a highway in border crossing that halted international travel and trade for over two weeks and disrupted our municipal neighbour, the Village of Coutts," said Feyter. .Van Herk was detained by RCMP on August 25, but he was released. .READ MORE: Coutts protester released by the RCMP after being 'detained'.A peaceful protest formed outside the Fort Macleod RCMP station to demand Van Herk be let go..A protestor at the station said the the crowd was “peacefully friendly" and gathered to support him..The Coutts Border Blockade started in January when a group of truck drivers and their allies gathered at the nearby border to protest against COVID-19 restrictions. .READ MORE: WATCH: Protestors retreating at Coutts border blockade .With the exception of some protesters speeding past an RCMP checkpoint, the demonstration had been peaceful with no arrests until police raided a location near the blockade, where they seized weapons. Thirteen people were arrested. .Protestors pulled out in February due to this incident and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act.
