Borden man accused of threatening Trudeau

A 34-year-old Saskatchewan man is charged with uttering threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Derek Hurrell, from Borden, appeared Friday in Saskatoon provincial court. He is scheduled to return to court June 1.

According to RCMP, New Brunswick RCMP alerted the RCMP national enforcement security section about “alleged threats made by an adult male against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media.”

The file “was linked to Saskatchewan,” at which point an ongoing investigation began.

While there was no direct contact between Hurrell and Trudeau, “we cannot speculate whether or not someone may or may not act on alleged threats made,” RCMP said in a statement.

Hurrell was arrested without incident on Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. after an RCMP traffic stop near Borden. Police also searched a home in Borden and seized “several electronic items,” RCMP said.

“This is the second charge of this nature laid within the past 10 months. Both instances involved the use of social media,” RCMP Supt. Rob Cameron said in a statement.

“It’s important for the public to know that criminal charges may be laid if evidence is obtained to support them. We do not take these investigations lightly, no matter who the victim is.”

In February, a Saskatchewan man was found guilty of uttering threats against Trudeau. Christopher Hayes was fined $500, given nine months probation — which includes not attending Trudeau events — and was prohibited from owning firearms for three years.

Hayes said on Facebook on March 6, 2016, that he was going to shoot Trudeau; in another post on July 8, he wrote that he wouldn’t physically harm Trudeau, but said the prime minister should be shot dead.

Court heard RCMP did not charge Hayes after the first post because the investigating officer believed Hayes understood the mistake he had made and would not do it again.

But in a statement to police after the second post, Hayes agreed when the officer said that he had crossed a line.