Transgender activist arrested for brandishing Taser

Jessica Yaniv, a transgender B.C. woman whose complaints over being refused intimate waxing services sparked wide controversy, was arrested Monday, apparently for brandishing a prohibited weapon during an online debate.

Yaniv said officers showed up at her apartment in Langley, B.C., shortly after the YouTube debate on transgender activism ended. The officers asked her about a stun gun, she said.

“About three minutes after (the broadcast ended), I have RCMP showing up at my door and putting me into cuffs saying I have a prohibited weapon,” she said in an interview.

She said that after her release from the holding cells and return to her apartment, she called the RCMP back Tuesday morning to report a child sexual exploitation photo that someone had sent her through Facebook messenger.

“It was a disturbing image,” Yaniv said. She urged the RCMP to return to her apartment to take her report and information about the message, she said.

The RCMP detachment in Langley confirmed an arrest and search of a home in the area but could not confirm specific de-tails, charges, timelines or named individuals, said Cpl. Craig Van Herk.

He said the RCMP received information and based on it officers have “an open investigation, an active and ongoing investigation.”

Van Herk would not confirm or deny the charges or the circumstances behind them or what Yaniv said was the reason for the RCMP’s return to her apartment.

Neighbours of Yaniv confirmed seeing her being taken away in handcuffs Monday and Yaniv did appear that day, side-by-side in a YouTube conversa-tion with Blaire White, a U.S.-based transgender woman whose videos often deal with transgender issues.

During the heated YouTube debate, viewed by the Post, White harshly criticized Yaniv’s tactics, actions and appearance and Yaniv said she faces harassment and threats because of the prominence of her trans activism.

“I have to carry pepper spray with me because people are so freaking violent over here,” Yaniv said during the debate.

She then stood up from her seat in front of her computer, rummaged around inside her apartment for a moment before returning.

“I should not have to literally have something like this,” she said. “I don’t need to be scared in my own house.” She then held up a stun gun and zapped it towards the camera, emitting a flash and a crackle.

“Which is illegal in Canada. Just sayin’,” she added.

Conducted energy weapons, also known as stun guns or by the brand name Taser, as well as pepper spray are considered prohibited weapons in the hands of the public. She said officers took two stun guns, pepper spray and bear spray from her apartment.

Yaniv, however, said the charge is unfair because she has repeatedly told police about her stun guns and repellent sprays, saying they are for her personal protection.

She said that several times when the RCMP, which provides municipal policing in Langley, came to take her reports of harassment or threats, she warned them she had weapons in the home.

“I say: ‘Hey, you know what, for your safety and for my safety, I do have weapons in the house, I do have a Taser, it’s locked up, if you want to see it, I’ll show it to you.’