Editor’s Note: This story contains profanity..In a hockey-playing country, the reaction was fast and furious after Calgary Police violently arrested a young man playing a game on shinny in violation of Alberta health orders..On Thursday, Calgary bylaw officers and police descended on an outdoor sheet of ice in Southwood where a pick-up game involving young men and children was taking place..A neighbour had called authorities as current COVID-19 health regulations in the province outlaw such gatherings..Most of the players complied with the order, except 21-year-old Ocean Wiesblatt who questioned officers on what the laws were and why he was being arrested.. Mossleigh pub briefly opens before authorities move in .Officers threatened to “fucking faze” Ocean and there were a series of failed struggles before they were able to take him to the ground, cut off his skates and haul him away. Ocean, who grew up with a family of hockey playing brothers raised by a deaf, single mom, was charged with resisting arrest, obstruction and breaking a public health order. The health ticket alone is $1,200..During the time the video was taken – a total of four-mintues – forty seconds, the police officers failed to respond to Ocean’s questions about what law he was breaking or was being charged with..It is unconstitutional for police to make an arrest in Canada without disclosing the charges being laid when asked..Provincial restrictions state that outdoor physical activities are still permitted for people from different households if the number does not exceed 10 people and individuals maintain two meters distance..The arrest brought bouquets and condemnation from across the country..Craig Button, a former Calgary Flames general manager and current TSN hockey analyst, retweeted videos of the arrest..Controversial Ontario politician Randy Hillier tweeted: “When young people are arrested for playing hockey on an outdoor rink, we are no longer Canadians #cdnpoli“.On the other side, in a Western Standard Facebook page filled with hundreds of comments, Patrick Friesen said some of the fault lay with Wiesblatt..“Although I disagree with the fact that kids can’t play hockey, he should’ve been respectful and listen to the police officers. He is the one that put them in that position. We need to look at this from all sides,” he wrote..Some people took issue with the woman who called the authorities. She has now deleted her Twitter account in which she took credit for calling the police..“I hope the lady who reported it feels way better about herself now, and how safe she helped make her community! What a waste of our tax dollars and public resources all to appease KAREN!” said Mac J. St. Jean..The Calgary Police Service released a statement claiming that there were 40 in attendance before the video began to record. The statement says that civilians are required to give their identity to police when ordered, however, the UCP government recently banned the practice of “carding” as discriminatory and arbitrary.. Screen-Shot-2020-12-20-at-11.17.24-AMCalgary police officer knees Ocean Wiesblatt as they struggle to arrest him .Supt. Ryan Ayliffe defended his officers actions..“We are seeing officers continually put into these untenable positions where they have to diffuse and support bylaw,” Ayliffe said at a Friday press conference..“What’s happening through our lens is good people are trying to find pieces of what they want to do in a changing environment and it is stressing people out to the max.”.…more to come.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
