Rebel News Files Lawsuit Over Reporter’s Arrest by RCMP

A plainclothes RCMP officer (L) grabs Rebel News reporter David Menzies, telling Mr. Menzies he is under arrest, in Richmond Hill, Ont., on Jan. 8, 2024. Screenshot/Rebel News Video

Rebel News has filed a lawsuit against members of the RCMP, accusing them of “roughing up” reporter David Menzies.

“The assault on David was part of a sustained violation of our civil rights as journalists,” the organization said on social media.

The incident happened on Jan. 8 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts north of Toronto, court documents say. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland was attending a commemorative event to remember the victims of Flight PS752, which was shot down by Iran in 2020.

Mr. Menzies was waiting outside the event to question the minister.

When he attempted to ask Ms. Freeland questions, a plainclothes RCMP officer, named John Doe in the court documents, intervened.

“John Doe 1 responded by shoving Mr. Menzies into the wall, twisting his arm, and yelling in his face that he was under arrest for assault,“ the documents say. ”John Doe 1 continued to restrain Mr. Menzies, holding on to his wrist.”

Other officers came over to assist in the arrest, according to the court filing.

The plaintiffs—the media organization and Mr. Menzies—say that the actions of the officers violated Mr. Menzies’ rights to security of the person and freedom from arbitrary detention.

They say it also violated Section 10 of the Charter of Rights, which requires that individuals be informed of the reasons for their detention or arrest.

Mr. Menzies was released and no formal charges were laid, Rebel News said in the social media post.

The lawsuit says the reporter was driven a few blocks away and dropped off, with officers telling him not to return to the centre.

A video of the incident was posted by the media outlet on X, formerly Twitter.

The lawsuit also says that the actions on Jan. 8 are part of an ongoing campaign of misconduct by police against Rebel News reporters.

“RCMP have over the last few years, engaged in a pattern of intimidation and exclusion against Rebel News journalists, including Mr. Menzies.”

The documents cite another incident in 2020 where Mr. Menzies attempted to question Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but was “assaulted” by RCMP members. It also notes that a reporter, Alexa Lavoie, was shot with a “riot suppressing gun” while reporting on the Freedom Convoy in February 2022.

On Jan. 8, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre commented on the video of the incident, saying: “This is the state of freedom of the press. In Canada. In 2024. After 8 years of Trudeau.”

Elon Musk also commented on the incident.

“Fine for the officer to body block someone trying to get close to a senior government official, but false to say that he deliberately assaulted an officer,” he said in a Jan. 8 post on X.

The Conservatives called for an investigation into the “assault” on Mr. Menzies just two days after the incident.

MP Marilyn Gladu, the Conservative critic for civil liberties, asked the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to look into the incident, calling it an “attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.”

The Epoch Times contacted RCMP headquarters for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Jennifer Cowan contributed to this report.