The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) said the Provincial Court of Alberta acquitted Fairview Baptist Church Pastor Tim Stephens on charges of violating COVID-19 restrictions. .Stephens spent a total of 21 days in jails..“We are pleased that the court acquitted Pastor Stephens on the charges of not complying with a public health order,” said the JCCF in a Tuesday press release. .“Pastor Stephens was illegally arrested and imprisoned for having allegedly violated the public health orders, which have since been shown to be ineffective and harmful.”.Alberta Court of King’s Bench Associate Chief Justice John Rooke issued an injunction in 2021 allowing police to arrest and take before court any Albertan who exercised his or her civil liberties during lockdowns. .At the request of the JCCF, the injunction was amended by the Court of King’s Bench to be restricted to people associated with the Whistle Stop Cafe. .Stephens became the third religious leader arrested in Alberta for allegedly violating COVID-19 restrictions over church attendance in 2021. .READ MORE: Third pastor arrested in Alberta for breaking COVID lockdowns.Calgary police arrested him despite having no association with the Whistle Stop Cafe and not having been served notice of the injunction. He had been subjected to repeated warnings from Alberta Health Services for having too many people at his services. .“We stand before Christ rather than bend before consequences,” he said. .The pastor was released after spending three days in the Calgary Remand Centre. .Stephens was arrested a second time one month later for allegedly conducting an outdoor church service violating a court order. .READ MORE: Pastor Stephens still cooling his heels in Calgary jail.“A police helicopter was deployed to search for and detect this gathering, and to collect evidence against Pastor Stephens of non-compliance with public health restrictions,” said the JCCF. .He spent about two weeks in jail before being freed. .Stephens had been served with six COVID-19 tickets for allegedly breaching public health orders. Four of those tickets had been dropped, and this decision pertains to the two remaining ones. .“This decision sets the record straight about the justifiability of his actions and about the importance of respecting Charter rights and freedoms,” said the JCCF.
