RURAL CRIME FIGHT BOOSTED
NDP puts $10M towArd hiring more RCMP offiCers And proseCutors
OKOTOKS More than 150 people gathered outside the courthouse on Friday morning to support a man charged with shooting at trespassers on his property.
Residents of rural communities across southern Alberta attended the rally, some holding signs and shouting slogans such as “broken system” and “charge the criminals.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a rural person, a city person — it’s property rights,” said Rod Hertz, who attended the rally. “You have to defend yourself, you should have the right to defend yourself.”
Edouard Maurice woke up early Feb. 24 to find two suspected trespassers rummaging through vehicles on his property.
Shots were fired and Ryan Watson was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm. He was charged with trespassing by night, theft under $5,000 from a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine and failure to comply with probation.
Maurice was charged with aggravated assault, pointing a firearm and careless use of a firearm — charges locals say aren’t fair.
Derek Ully lives on a farm in the area and says rural crime has been on the rise. While he believes no one should have to fire a shot to protect their property, he said, “I don’t know what the answer is, but something has got to happen to make this stop.”
The shooting, which reminded some at the rally of the Gerald Stanley case in Saskatchewan, has spurred a debate on rural crime in Alberta and how far landowners can go to protect their property.
With the RCMP’s response times in rural areas taking upwards of 45 minutes, locals say they are left with few options when criminals come calling.
“We are (fed up),” said Bernie McWilliam. “Most places in the country, you’re a half-hour (away). Unless the RCMP happen to be driving by, you’re a long ways away from any help. What are you supposed to do?”
Maurice and his family arrived at the courthouse to a round of applause from the crowd, and his lawyer, Tonii Roulston, thanked the community for their support of her client.
“These are individuals who have had no interaction with the criminal justice system,” she said.
“This is an unfortunate and unfair position that they have been placed in.”
Maurice’s case has been adjourned until April 6 at 9:30 a.m.
A fundraising page has been set up online and has already received more than $13,000 in donations to pay for Maurice’s defence. A trust fund has also been started up by Travis Dunne, a friend of the Maurice family, to help pay for Maurice’s legal fees.
“We need to get the criminals behind bars and stop them so they don’t turn another law-abiding citizen into a victim,” Dunne said.
Donations to the trust can be made at any TD Canada Trust branch under account 80796142303.