"Freedom Convoy" leader Pat King arrested live on social media - Ottawa Citizen

“I am being arrested. We will talk to you guys soon.”

Publishing date:

Feb 18, 2022 • 5 hours ago • 2 minute read

Pat King livestreams from the Ottawa airport. screengrab from Facebook “The Real Pat King” jpg

Pat King, one of the most vocal members of the “Freedom Convoy” movement, went on social media Friday to livestream his arrest.

“I am being arrested by this officer right now,” he told viewers to his live Facebook feed. “I am being arrested. We will talk to you guys soon.”

Around 12:30 p.m., as rows of police were in a tense faceoff with protesters and supporters near the intersection of Rideau and Sussex and police in vehicles and on horseback were moving in elsewhere, King was approached in his vehicle by a police officer who said: “You are under arrest, sir.”

“For what?” King asked.

He was told he was being arrested for counselling to commit the offence of mischief, counselling to obstruct police and counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order.

King told the officer he would like to call his lawyer.

“I have the right to a lawyer?” he asked, to which the police officer responded: “Of course you do.”

The officer said he just wanted to “make sure everything is safe.” King replied: “You are safe, man, you have always been.”

King was the latest high profile convoy organizer to be arrested.

Organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich were to be in court Friday after being arrested Thursday evening. They both face charges of counselling to commit mischief. Barber was also charged with counselling to disobey a court order and counselling to obstruct police.

The arrests took place among a large police operation aimed at peacefully ending the occupation that has paralyzed downtown Ottawa and closed businesses for three weeks. Police have said it would be a methodical, multi-day operation.

King, who has been among the divisive leaders of the movement, led a small group of trucks in an aim to block Ottawa’s airport and mused about driving around schools. He appeared on Fox TV on Thursday, saying he expected to be arrested.

READ MORE COVERAGE OF THE ANTI-VACCINE MANDATE PROTEST IN DOWNTOWN OTTAWA

PHOTO GALLERY OF DOWNTOWN OTTAWA FROM FEB. 18, 2022:

Police advance on protesters near the Rideau Centre. photo by Jean Levac jpg
Police presence on Sussex Ave which includes a large armoured vehicle. Photo by Blair Crawford /Postmedia
Protesters and police confront one another outside the Rideau Centre and Westin Hotel. photo by Jean Levac/ Postmedia Postmedia
Screen grabs from video of protesters confronted by police near the Rideau Centre. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
screen grabs from video of protesters confronted by police near the Rideau Centre. image by Jean Levac/ Postmedia Postmedia
Police move in on Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa Friday morning. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
OTTAWA — O.P.P. Offender Transport vehicles on Elgin Street on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Police at the corner of Daly and Nicholas Street. Photo by Matthew Lapierre /Postmedia
OTTAWA — Two O.P.P. Officers prevent protesters from entering the red zone of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
OTTAWA — A man carries a Canada flag on Metcalfe Street as part of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
OTTAWA — A man shovels near trucks that remain on Rideau Street as part of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Scene at Bank and Wellington Streets. Photo by Kelly Egan /Postmedia
OTTAWA — Police screen vehicles on Metcalfe Street as part of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 — . Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
OTTAWA — Police screen vehicles on Metcalfe Street as part of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
OTTAWA — Protesters on Metcalfe Street as part of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Errol McGihon Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
OTTAWA — People roll stage equipment on Metcalfe Street to be setup as part of the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clash and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. A young girl cries as police are just feet away. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. A family holds each other tight as police are just feet away. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. A family holds each other tight as police are just feet away. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. A young girl cries as police are just feet away. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. A family holds each other tight as police are just feet away. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Livestream video screen capture from Chrysty MacLean (Freebyrde) jpg
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday afternoon near Sussex Drive. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
Police took action to move protesters, and arrest some of them, in an effort to end the occupation of the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
Police took action to move protesters, and arrest some of them, in an effort to end the occupation of the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Police took action to move protesters, and arrest some of them, in an effort to end the occupation of the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
Police took action to move protesters, and arrest some of them, in an effort to end the occupation of the nation’s capital. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
One of the many police lines where protesters and police clashed during the “Freedom Convoy” protest, February 18, 2022. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia
Protesters and police clashed and people were arrested Friday after noon near Sussex Drive. Protesters cleaning up after an early morning snow storm. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia