'I'm sorry, God': Accused at Coutts border blockade cried when protest abandoned
![Coutts border blockade trial continues Weapons and ammunition seized by the RCMP are shown in a 2022 handout photo. The trial of two men charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the 2022 border blockade at Coutts, Alta., is expected to hear more from one of the accused in a video statement he gave to police. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - RCMP](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/6/26/coutts-border-blockade-trial-continues-1-6941417-1719404685945.jpg)
Anthony Olienick, sitting alone in an empty police interrogation room, breaks down in tears when he learns the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., has disbanded in part because of his arrest.
“I’m sorry, God,” Olienick says to the four walls, in a video played for jurors Wednesday at his murder-conspiracy trial.
In the 2022 video, Olienick tells police he and others formed the blockade at the busy Canada-U. S. border crossing to take a stand against a takeover of Canadian freedoms by tyrants, including United Nations troops and Chinese communists.
“We're just trying to be protectors. That's all,” says Olienick.
“We've seen it all over the world … governments do bad things."
Olienick and fellow protester Chris Carbert are on trial in Lethbridge, Alta., charged with conspiring to kill Mounties at the blockade.
The two men were arrested after RCMP found a cache of guns, body armour and ammunition in trailers in Coutts.
In the video, Olienick tells police there was no plan to attack, and the guns were only for defence.
“We're just protecting the flock. That's all I wanted,” he says.
“We're the sheepdogs in case of something going bad.”
Olienick rejects the allegation he would threaten officers, but qualifies it by saying, "unless you guys are shooting at us first."
"But it wouldn't be you guys," he adds. "It would be UN guys or Chinese.”
Earlier in the interview, Olienick expresses concern about Canada being taken over by a communist regime.
The blockade tied up traffic at the Coutts border crossing for two weeks, part of a nationwide backlash against pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates seen as unnecessary and punitive.
The blockade ended when convoy leader Marco Van Huigenbos announced that because of the arrests and gun seizures the blockade would wrap up immediately and peacefully.
When police convey this to Olienick in the video, he appears devastated.
"I am so heartbroken. That was never our intention,” he says. “That's not the outcome that we wanted."
“I want to defend myself against some tyranny, and that's it.
"I'm not going to be the first guy who's going to do it. I'm going to be the guy that's going to end it if it happens.”
Undercover officers have testified Olienick told them police were pawns of the federal government and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the devil. Police should be hanged, he said, and if officers raided the blockade he would “slit their throats.”
He also characterized to the undercover agents that the blockade represented the fight and mission of his life.
In the video, Olienick reacts when he's told some of the evidence against him came from undercover officers.
"Oh my goodness," he says.
The officer in the interrogation room pushes Olienick about the alleged threats against police.
"Was there any conversation where you might have been fired up or anything like that or this might have been misconstrued?" the officer asks.
"If it was talking at the time about politicians or something like that and some generic thing," Olienick replies.
"Anything specific though?" the officer says. "Anything like, 'I'm going to kill cops?'"
"Not that I would outright say,” Olienick says.
Court of King's Bench David Labrenz reminded the jurors they shouldn't draw conclusions from the Olienick's views in the interview.
"Nobody is charged or found guilty of a criminal offence for being of a character that you don't agree with or having a disposition you don't agree with," the judge said.
Olienick and Carbert are also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Olienick faces a further charge of being in possession of a pipe bomb.
The defence has suggested one undercover officer broke legal and ethical rules by flirting with Olienick to gain information, as text messages between her and Olienick featured heart emojis.
The officer rejected the flirting allegation. The hearts, said the officer, indicated she liked the comments, not the person.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6945819.1719614720!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Tenants in 16-floor apartment building in Ottawa's west-end served eviction notices
More than 100 people in Ottawa's west-end are in the process of receiving eviction notices to vacate their 50-year-old apartment building for renovations.
WestJet cancels at least 150 flights following mechanics union strike
WestJet says it's cancelled at least 150 flights beginning Saturday after the union maintaining the airline's planes announced it went on strike hours earlier.
Health Canada recalls brand of sunscreen product due to potential fungal contamination
Double check your sunscreen products before lathering up this long weekend, as Health Canada has recalled several lots across the country.
opinion Practical tips for seniors who want to supplement their retirement income
Are you retired and looking for some ideas to help make some extra money? Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew has some tips to help you earn some income in your golden years.
As fall elections loom, are fears for the state of democracy in Canada justified?
Is Canada's democracy truly under threat? Political scientists say while Canadian politics and institutions are facing a myriad of concerns, the situation isn't dire overall.
The small French town where Newfoundlanders were heroes
It was a battle ripped from the pages of a storybook: Ten soldiers held off hundreds of German troops to save a small French village in the First World War.
Ontario woman loses $1,000 deposit in cottage rental scam
For many, the Canada Day long weekend is the official kick off of summer and many families will be spending time at a cottage.
Driver charged with DUI for New York nail salon crash that killed 4 and injured 9
A minivan slammed into a Long Island nail salon Friday, killing four people and injuring 9, a Suffolk County fire official said.
'We need new leadership': Liberal MP writes to caucus, says Justin Trudeau should resign
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.