The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stated that one of its officers’ actions did not align with the provisions of the Trespass to Property Act, following a call for service in Prince Edward County.
Police were called to a Tim Hortons in Picton, Ont. and asked to remove a Rebel News journalist who was filming inside the restaurant. The video, later posted on X, shows the interaction between the cop and the employee.
“She’s an independent journalist,” the officer stated. “She never trespassed on this property, and she has 100 per cent rights to be here.”
OPP says it is now conducting an internal review after the officer’s actions were deemed an inappropriate application of the law.
“In Ontario under the Trespass to Property Act, property owners or those responsible for a property have the legal right to ask someone to leave if they are doing something that is considered prohibited. The owner or person in charge of the property is responsible for deciding what is prohibited,” OPP said in a press release. “If the individual refuses to leave when asked, they may be trespassing. In that case, the owner or occupier can call the police to help remove the person from the property.”
The release states that OPP conducted an initial investigation into the original call for service, but that matter has now been referred to the Canadian Border Services Agency.
https://www.rebelnews.com/opp_review_la ... im_hortons
OPP states officer misapplied trespassing law in Picton incident
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Michael Jack
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OPP states officer misapplied trespassing law in Picton incident
Michael Jack, Administrator
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Michael Jack
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- Posts: 2860
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 5:18 pm
- Contact:
OPP review launched after officer dismisses bogus trespass claim at Picton Tim Hortons
Amid allegations of child marriage and immigration fraud at the franchise location, an OPP officer is under internal review for refusing to back a bogus trespass claim against a journalist — perhaps a troubling display of power play within the force.
A small-town Tim Hortons in Picton, Ontario, is at the centre of serious allegations involving arranged child marriage and immigration fraud. But now, attention is shifting to how police responded instead of the alleged crimes.
This unfolding has triggered an internal review by the Ontario Provincial Police, specifically their East Division.
The controversy began when a now-terminated manager at the franchise allegedly offered a vulnerable 17-year-old girl between $15,000 and $20,000 to marry her 25-year-old brother, a foreign national from India, in what appears to be an immigration scheme to secure permanent residency. Text message exchanges shared in the initial report corroborate the claims.
Original allegations raise serious red flags for a host of potential criminal offences, including child exploitation, human trafficking, bribery, immigration fraud, and conspiracy to misrepresent facts to Canadian immigration authorities.
While gathering evidence on the ground, I entered the restaurant and posed a pointed, albeit satirical, question: Could I marry the manager’s brother for $20,000? The purpose was to prompt a response or denial from the accused parties. Instead, staff refused to comment. I then left without incident, captured necessary visuals for the story, and continued interviewing whistleblowers and protesters outside.
Later, two OPP cruisers arrived. I approached the officers to ask if the alleged immigration and exploitation scheme was being investigated. One officer confirmed that it was. But as the officers proceeded inside to clarify the nature of the call they received, it was revealed that the franchise owner had accused me of trespassing.
This development, caught on camera, surprised both myself and the officers — particularly since I had not been asked to leave and had already exited the property peacefully, on two separate occasions.
Under Ontario’s Trespass to Property Act, trespass is only an offence if a person enters or remains on private property after being given proper notice — either verbally, in writing, or through signage. None of those legal thresholds were met in this case, yet police were still dispatched.
Now, OPP East Region has launched an internal review into how the responding officer(s) handled the incident and the accusation of trespass.
The responding officer appeared to handle the matter with discretion and professionalism, ultimately not pursuing the baseless claim. However, the fact that a media member reporting on potential human trafficking was the subject of a police call raises concerns about the use—or misuse—of law enforcement resources.
A media inquiry was sent to Bill Dickson, Media Relations Coordinator for OPP East, seeking clarity on the scope of the review, whether this location has a history of calling police on media or protesters, and whether businesses are using police as a tool to suppress investigative journalism. The inquiry was acknowledged, but no response was received by publication.
Meanwhile, more individuals have come forward with similar allegations involving other fast-food locations in nearby Wellington, pointing to what could be a coordinated scheme of exploitation and immigration fraud operating across multiple franchises.
As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: diverting police attention to intimidate journalists will not bury allegations of criminal wrongdoing. The real investigation — and the public’s right to know — is just beginning.
Support Rebel News Field Reports! Your contribution helps our fearless journalists travel across the country to report on the stories mainstream media refuses to cover. Whether it's exposing government overreach, giving a voice to the voiceless, or documenting on-the-ground protests and events, Rebel News is dedicated to bringing you the unfiltered truth. With your help, we can continue to challenge censorship and provide Canadians with real, independent journalism. Please donate today to keep our Field Reports team on the frontlines!
https://www.rebelnews.com/opp_review_la ... im_hortons
A small-town Tim Hortons in Picton, Ontario, is at the centre of serious allegations involving arranged child marriage and immigration fraud. But now, attention is shifting to how police responded instead of the alleged crimes.
This unfolding has triggered an internal review by the Ontario Provincial Police, specifically their East Division.
The controversy began when a now-terminated manager at the franchise allegedly offered a vulnerable 17-year-old girl between $15,000 and $20,000 to marry her 25-year-old brother, a foreign national from India, in what appears to be an immigration scheme to secure permanent residency. Text message exchanges shared in the initial report corroborate the claims.
Original allegations raise serious red flags for a host of potential criminal offences, including child exploitation, human trafficking, bribery, immigration fraud, and conspiracy to misrepresent facts to Canadian immigration authorities.
While gathering evidence on the ground, I entered the restaurant and posed a pointed, albeit satirical, question: Could I marry the manager’s brother for $20,000? The purpose was to prompt a response or denial from the accused parties. Instead, staff refused to comment. I then left without incident, captured necessary visuals for the story, and continued interviewing whistleblowers and protesters outside.
Later, two OPP cruisers arrived. I approached the officers to ask if the alleged immigration and exploitation scheme was being investigated. One officer confirmed that it was. But as the officers proceeded inside to clarify the nature of the call they received, it was revealed that the franchise owner had accused me of trespassing.
This development, caught on camera, surprised both myself and the officers — particularly since I had not been asked to leave and had already exited the property peacefully, on two separate occasions.
Under Ontario’s Trespass to Property Act, trespass is only an offence if a person enters or remains on private property after being given proper notice — either verbally, in writing, or through signage. None of those legal thresholds were met in this case, yet police were still dispatched.
Now, OPP East Region has launched an internal review into how the responding officer(s) handled the incident and the accusation of trespass.
The responding officer appeared to handle the matter with discretion and professionalism, ultimately not pursuing the baseless claim. However, the fact that a media member reporting on potential human trafficking was the subject of a police call raises concerns about the use—or misuse—of law enforcement resources.
A media inquiry was sent to Bill Dickson, Media Relations Coordinator for OPP East, seeking clarity on the scope of the review, whether this location has a history of calling police on media or protesters, and whether businesses are using police as a tool to suppress investigative journalism. The inquiry was acknowledged, but no response was received by publication.
Meanwhile, more individuals have come forward with similar allegations involving other fast-food locations in nearby Wellington, pointing to what could be a coordinated scheme of exploitation and immigration fraud operating across multiple franchises.
As this story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: diverting police attention to intimidate journalists will not bury allegations of criminal wrongdoing. The real investigation — and the public’s right to know — is just beginning.
Support Rebel News Field Reports! Your contribution helps our fearless journalists travel across the country to report on the stories mainstream media refuses to cover. Whether it's exposing government overreach, giving a voice to the voiceless, or documenting on-the-ground protests and events, Rebel News is dedicated to bringing you the unfiltered truth. With your help, we can continue to challenge censorship and provide Canadians with real, independent journalism. Please donate today to keep our Field Reports team on the frontlines!
https://www.rebelnews.com/opp_review_la ... im_hortons
Michael Jack, Administrator