OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE-
CANADA
Edmonton Police Service
Alberta
End of Watch: Monday, June 8, 2015
Biographical Info
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, June 8, 2015
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Believed to be deceased
Constable Daniel Woodall was shot and killed as he and several
other constables attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a home
in the Callingwood area.
The subject named on the warrant was wanted for criminal
harassment. As they officers attempted to enter the home, near
the intersection of 182nd Street and 62A Avenue, the man opened
fire from inside. Constable Woodall was struck several times and
fatally wounded. A second constable was shot in the back but the
round was stopped by his vest.
The home became engulfed in flames following the shooting and it
is believed the subject was deceased.
Constable Woodall had served with the Edmonton Police
Department for eight years. He is survived by his wife and two
children.
Edmonton Police Service
9620 - 103A Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5H 0H7
Phone: (780) 423-4567
Please contact the Edmonton Police Service for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Information on this memorial is preliminary. A final determination on line of duty status may be made at a future date.
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This ain't the USA and this ain't the facists running Europe... this is Canada - OUR TROOPS, POLICING, FIRST RESPONDERS FUCKING MATTER IN CANADA...
-----------------
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Who was fallen Edmonton police officer Const.
Daniel Woodall?
By Patricia Kozicka Lifestyle and Special
Projects Reporter Global News
WATCH ABOVE: Woodall is being remembered as a dedicated police officer
and a hero to his two young boys. Kendra Slugoski reports.
TORONTO —
The shooting death of Const. Daniel Woodall in west Edmonton
has left “a wife without a husband,” as the city’s police chief said, “and
two young children without a father.” The 35-year-old’s wife, Claire
Woodall who works for a local radio station, told Edmonton police Tuesday
morning that he died doing what he loved.
Your
generous outpouring of love for myself and my boys fills my heart.. He is my
hero,our boys'hero &Edmonton's newest hero. #EPSstrong
— Claire
(@NumberGenie) June 9, 2015
His life is
being mourned not only in Canada, but also in the United Kingdom, where
he was from and where his policing career began.
Const.
Woodall is believed to have originally lived with his family in the Eccles area
of Salford, where he also reportedly went to school.
The Greater
Manchester Police say Const. Woodall started his career with the force in
August 2002 and left for Canada with his family in December 2006.
“He was a
truly ebullient man — always volunteering for new challenges and
experiences,” said GMP Det. Insp. Jim Faulkner.
“He was
extremely keen to learn and always had a smile on his face! He would do
anything for any of his colleagues, every one of whom liked him and were sad
when he decided to leave for Canada. This was done purely for the benefit of
his young family.
“I can’t
really comprehend this has happened and I am in shock. It really is tragic and
my heart and thoughts go out to his family and colleagues.”
The grieving
mother of two told the Manchester Evening News that her husband being
“remembered in the country where he started his career means the world”
to her and her two boys, aged six and four.
Sending love
to our co-worker Claire who lost her husband last night. RIP Constable Woodall.
#EPSstrong #yeg pic.twitter.com/HLNO5VWf8S
— The Wake
Up! Show (@JasonandKari) June 9, 2015
Const.
Woodall had been with the Edmonton Police Service for eight years.
He graduated from the Edmonton Police Service’s recruit training in July,
2007, and was assigned to the hate crimes unit in October 2013.
“His job was
to protect all us from harm,” said Edmonton police chief Rod Knecht in a news
conference Monday night.
A powerful
show of support for fallen #yeg
Const. Daniel Woodall. @edmontonpolice
atrium is full waiting for chief. pic.twitter.com/T77V9nUwct
— Fletcher
Kent (@FletcherKent) June 9, 2015
In a news conference Tuesday morning, Knecht added that Const.
Woodall died from a “catastrophic wound.” A stalking suspected opened fire on
him and 38-year-old Sgt. Jason Harley, who was treated for a gunshot to
his lower back and has since been released from hospital.
WATCH: Edmonton Police remember Const. Woodall as a ‘keen
investigator,’ and a devoted husband and father
The
shooting happened around 8 p.m. Monday inside a Callingwood-area home
near 186th Street and 62A Avenue, where the officers had come around to make
a criminal harassment arrest.
53 bullet
holes found in house and garage across from the residence. Speaks to power of
weapon used. #yeg
— Vassy
Kapelos (@VassyKapelos) June 9, 2015
His wife,
aware there was a situation, wrote on Twitter that she hoped her husband
wasn’t there.
@maria_249 @iNews880 Haven't heard anything so
here's hoping my cop isn't there! #policewife #nerves #family #love #prayer #positivevibes
— Claire
(@NumberGenie) June 9, 2015
— Claire
(@NumberGenie) June 9, 2015
“She was worried that Dan might be involved.
Then she got a knock at the door,” Carol Forshaw, a relative
of Const. Woodall told the Manchester Evening News.
WATCH: Mayor Iveson fights back tears as he thanks Const. Daniel Woodall
for his service and sacrifice
An endless stream
of condolences has poured in for the fallen officer.
On his
wife’s Facebook page, loved ones have said he was “one of a kind,” and “truly a
wonderful man.”
He was taken
way too soon, they wrote, and will be missed.
Father-in-law
says Constable Daniel Woodall, shot dead in Canada, died 'doing a job he loved'
http://t.co/Me9wS1aULn pic.twitter.com/4gLOIEAZKP
— Manchester
News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) June 9, 2015
The last EPS
officer to be killed on the job was Ezio Faraone. On June 25, 1990, Const.
Faraone, who was assigned to a tactical team unit, was shot by a suspect during
a robbery investigation.
----
Cst. Daniel Woodall family fund
----
Regimental funeral for Const.
Woodall to be held Wednesday
Global News
WATCH ABOVE: A regimental funeral service for fallen EPS Const. Daniel Woodall will be held on Wednesday. As Eric Szeto reports, members of the public paid tribute to Woodall and the EPS on Friday.
EDMONTON — Edmonton police Const. Daniel Woodall, who was killed in the line of duty, will be laid to rest on Wednesday, June 17.
The regimental funeral and celebration of life will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton.
Related
·
How
to show your support for Woodall family, Edmonton police
·
A
look at the EPS Hate Crime Unit that Const. Daniel Woodall worked for
·
Edmonton
police Const. Daniel Woodall, 35, killed in west-end shooting
A funeral procession will take place from the Alberta Legislature to the Shaw Conference Centre on Wednesday starting at 9:30 a.m. Members of the public will have the opportunity to pay their respects along the funeral procession route.
The procession will start at the legislature at 107 Street and 97 Avenue, proceed north along 107 Street to Jasper Avenue, travel east on Jasper Avenue to 95 Street, and then move down Grierson Hill to the Shaw Conference Centre. Road closures will be in effect.
Tonia
Huynh, Global News
Those wishing to pay their respects
may do so at a public visitation on Sunday, June 14 from noon until 4 p.m. at
First Memorial Funeral Services Harmony Chapel at 10541-81 Avenue. Members
of the EPS Guard of Honour will be standing vigil over the closed casket.People are also invited to email their messages to condolences@edmontonpolice.ca.
A D. Woodall Family Fund has been set up through RBC. Contributions can be made at any RBC branch. Donations to the D. Woodall Family Fund can also be made online by visiting gofundme.com/wf7z7yss. All funds donated through this online account will be deposited into the RBC fund for the Woodall family.
READ MORE: Who was fallen Edmonton police officer Const. Daniel Woodall?
Woodall was shot and killed Monday night in west Edmonton. He was one of several officers who arrived at a home on an arrest warrant when they were fired upon. Sgt. Jason Harley, 38, was treated for a gunshot to his lower back and was later released from hospital.
“His job was to protect all us from harm,” said Edmonton police chief Rod Knecht in a news conference Monday night.
READ MORE: How to show your support for Woodall family, Edmonton police
“He was a truly ebullient man,” said Det. Insp. Jim Faulkner with the Greater Manchester Police, where Woodall started his police career, “always volunteering for new challenges and experiences.”
“He was extremely keen to learn and always had a smile on his face! He would do anything for any of his colleagues.”
Woodall leaves behind his wife Claire, sons Gabe and Callen, as well as family members, many of whom still live in Manchester.
---------------
Video
Edmonton police officer's
funeral details released
Thousands expected to attend
funeral for Const. Daniel Woodall
CBC
News Posted: Jun 12, 2015 7:38 AM MT Last Updated: Jun 12,
2015 8:50 PM MT
Outpouring
of support for fallen officer 2:26
A regimental funeral for Const.
Daniel Woodall, the police officer shot and killed Monday night
in Edmonton, will be held on Wednesday, June 17 at 11:30 a.m.Const. Daniel Woodall died during a standoff with a man police wanted to arrest for criminal harassment. The suspect fired dozens of rounds at police with a high-powered rifle before shooting himself.
The Shaw Conference Centre, a large-scale venue, has been booked for the funeral service.
Thousands are expected to attend, including police officers from across the country.
Claire
Woodall posted this photo on Facebook after learning her husband was shot and
killed in the line of duty. (Facebook)
In the days leading up
to the funeral, there will be a reception for people wanting to pay their
respects. They can do so on Sunday, June 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the First Memorial Funeral Services - Harmony Chapel.
The family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the "D Woodall Family Fund" available at any RBC location.
Public Visitation
Sunday, June 14, 2015, 12 to 4 p.m.
First Memorial Funeral Services Harmony Chapel, 10541 – 81 Avenue
Mourners can pay their respects during the visitation. Parking in the area is limited and road closures in the immediate area may be in effect.
Funeral Procession
Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Alberta Legislature Building to Shaw Conference Centre
Members of the public have the opportunity to pay their respects along the funeral procession route. The procession starts at the Alberta Legislature, proceeds northbound along 107 Street to Jasper Avenue, travels eastbound on Jasper Avenue to 95 Street, and then moves down Grierson Hill to the Shaw Conference Centre. Road closures will be in effect and motorists are encouraged to find alternate routes.
Regimental Funeral and Celebration of Life
Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Avenue
The public is invited to attend the regimental funeral to honour the life of Constable Daniel Woodall. Public access to the Conference Centre will be through the entrance on Jasper Avenue. Limited seating. Road closures will be in effect and parking in the area is limited.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-police-officer-s-funeral-details-released-1.3110701
THE LAST POST
Daniel Woodall shooting in
Alberta: Former GMP police officer killed in Canada pictured with family
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/daniel-woodall-shooting-alberta-police-9419247
------------
------------------
O CANADA- look at who we have lost along with our wounded...
------------------
FREEMAN
OF THE LAND...
They believe in the
sovereignty of the individual and completely reject authority and all its
trappings.
Members of the Freeman of
the Land movement believe laws apply to them only if they choose or consent to
those laws.
“It is an odd movement and
those associated with it are most often radical conservatives,” Randle Hart, an
assistant profes-sor in the sociology and criminology department at Saint
Mary’s University, said recently.
“In Canada, you would find
most of them in the Alberta area.”
The man believed
responsible for the shooting death of Const. Daniel Woodall, an Edmonton police
officer, and the wounding of another officer on Monday, was said to be a
Freeman of the Land adherent.
Norman Walter Raddatz, 42,
was being investigated by officers in the hate crime unit of the Edmonton
Police Service in relation to alleged anti-semitic harass-ment of a man and his
family. Raddatz is believed to have died in a fire at his home that took place
immediately after he fired shots at the police officers.
“It’s called the Sovereign
Citizen movement in the United States and the main idea is that the individual
is sovereign and governments aren’t,” said Hart.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation has the movement on its domestic terror watchlist.
Timothy McVeigh and Terry
Nichols, of 1995’s Oaklahoma City bombing, were believed to be associated with
the American equivalent. Well over 600 people were wounded in that bombing and
168 people died.
Members don’t believe it is
necessary to have driver’s licences, pay income tax or answer to any authority.
They avoid mortgages, taxes and utility bills, to name a few. Most importantly,
proponents believe they have an unfettered right to carry and use a firearm.
“They also believe each
individual has a secret bank account that the government controls and all they
have to do is present the proper documents with the right information and they
can access their account,” Hart explained.
A Halifax area man was
arrested Tuesday night and charged with obstructing a police officer after he
refused to roll down his window when requested at a traffic stop.
When brought before a
provincial court judge, the man refused to sit down or confirm his address.
After a two-hour cooling off period, he was returned to court and provided the
proper information.
Although rumoured to be a
Freeman of the Land member, his friends and family members at the courthouse
denied he was connected with the movement.
Back in 2011, when a
Cumberland County man was arrested for making threats against police officers,
he was wearing a loaded revolver in a holster on his hip.
Daren Wayne McCormick was
associated with the movement and with the Phoenix Tears movement, which
promotes the use of marijuana as a cure for cancer and other illnesses.
McCormick was sentenced to
three years in prison for weapons offences and threatening to kill police
officers.
On the Law Society of
British Columbia website, barristers in that province are warned about members
of Freeman of the Land because they use lawyers to create so-called paper bombs
— clogging the legal system with pseudo-legal documents and pursuing suits that
sometimes ruin credit ratings and businesses.
As well, the site warns
legal firms to remember: “Since one of the tenets of the Freeman on the Land
movement is an unrestricted right to possess and use firearms, they raise
significant safety and security concerns.”
Hart says most times people
are attracted to such movements because they purport to offer a way out for
many people.
“People who are down and
out and don’t have a lot of money are often vulnerable to groups like this,” he
said. “And social media makes it easier for the messages to spread quickly.”
1. Alberta justice minister says he has 'had it' with
Freeman-on ...
globalnews.ca/.../justice-minister-says-he-has-had-it-with-freeman-on-the...
o
o
Sep 25, 2013 - CALGARY- Alberta's justice minister is wading into the strange
debate, over the Freeman-on-the-Land movement. Controversy has been ...
2. Freeman-on-the-land
| News, Videos & Articles - Global News
globalnews.ca/tag/freeman-on-the-land/
o
o
Freeman-on-the-land videos and latest news articles;
GlobalNews.ca your source for the ... sovereign citizens taking over property
near Grande Prairie, Alberta.
3. Inside a fight with the Freemen on the Land | Alberta |
News ...
www.edmontonsun.com/.../inside-a-battle-with-the-freemen-on-the-land
o
o
Nov 16, 2013 - A cabin in the woods can be the perfect spot to find some quiet
and get in touch with nature. But for one trapper, all that changed with a phone ...
4. Practice
Tips - The Freeman-on-the-Land movement | The ...
www.lawsociety.bc.ca › ... › Benchers' Bulletin › 2012: No.
4 Winter
o
o
Freeman-on-the-Land is listed on the FBI's domestic terror
watchlist ... Editorial
Notice: On behalf of the Government of Alberta personal data identifiers have ...
---
· Judge's scathing ruling against Alberta 'freeman' could
...
news.nationalpost.com/.../judges-scathing-ruling-against-alberta-freeman...
·
Sep 28, 2012 - Robert Menard a “guru” of the Freeman on the Land. ... In Ontario andAlberta, Freemen have been caught driving cars without licence plates
...
· Freeman On The Land | National Post
news.nationalpost.com/tag/freeman-on-the-land
·
Man in Calgary freeman-on-the-land case to have psychiatric tests for alleged ...Freemen-on-the-land 'embassy' that took over Alberta house sees police ...
· Freeman-on-the-land complaint in northern Alberta leads
to ...
www.cbc.ca/.../freeman-on-the-land-complaint-in-northern-alberta-leads...
·
Oct 9, 2013 - Grande Prairie RCMP arrested a Manitoba
man after complaints by trappers that cabins were being occupied by squatters
identifying ...
· Freeman on the land - RationalWiki
rationalwiki.org/wiki/Freeman_on_the_land
·
·
Jun 2, 2015 - Freeman on the land, also known as FMOTL, FOTL, "Footle" or simply
..... Meads (2012-09-18) Alberta judge writes the all time smack down of ...
---
Freemen on the Land Alberta
Freeman Accused Of Assaulting Landladies
Looking For Loophole
Read
More: Andreas Pirelli Freeman, Mario Antonacci Trial, Freemen on the Land Movement, Andreas Pirelli Trial,Mario Antonacci Calgary, Freemen on the Land Alberta, Andreas Pirelli Calgary, Andreas Pirelli Quebec, Alberta
Crime, Mario Antonacci Freemen on the Land, Andreas Pirelli, Andreas Pirelli Freemen on the Land, Cp, Canada
Alberta News
MONTREAL - The
Montreal man evicted from a Calgary duplex after trying to declare it a
sovereign embassy will be evaluated to determine whether he can...
Mounties Move In On Armed Freeman Holding Out
In Cabin
Read
More: Paul Fiola Freeman Grande Prairie, Freemen-on-the-Land Alberta, Paul Fiola Freemen-on-the-Land Movement, Cp, Paul Fiola Grande Prairie, Paul Fiola Arrested, Alberta
Crime, Rcmp, Paul Fiola Charged, Paul
Fiola,Grande Prairie, Canada
Alberta News
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta.
- RCMP have arrested a man as part of their investigation into allegations that
a group of self-proclaimed sovereign citizens ha...
Gunplay Feared As Freemen-On-The-Land Occupy
Alberta WIlds
Read
More: Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Trappers, Grande Prarie Freemen-on-the-Land, Freemen-on-the-Land Alberta, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Guns, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Armed, Freemen-on-the-Land, Sovereign Citizen Grande Prairie, Alberta
Crime, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Cabin, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Trap Line, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie, Grande
Prairie, Canada
Alberta News
Fears of gunplay
surround the latest Freemen-on-the-Land incident being investigated by Alberta
police. A group of men, who describe themselves as ...
Freemen-On-The-Land Refuse To Obey Eviction
Notice
Read
More: Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Trappers, Grande Prarie Freemen-on-the-Land, Freemen-on-the-Land Alberta, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Guns, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Armed, Cp,Freemen-on-the-Land, Sovereign Citizen Grande Prairie, Alberta
Crime, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Cabin,Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie Trap Line, Grande
Prairie, Freemen-on-the-Land Grande Prairie, Crime
Alberta,Canada Alberta News
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta.
- RCMP say they're working towards a peaceful solution after reports that some
self-proclaimed sovereign citizens have taken ove...
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This ain't the USA, or Fascist Europe... this is Canada- our troops, policing and first responders f**king matter - #WeSeeYou
----------------------
CANADA LAW SOCIETY...
Practice Tips, by Dave
Bilinsky, Practice Management Advisor
The
Freeman-on-the-Land movement
we don’t need youor your rules – this is ours
there’s something to die for…
Lyrics, music and
recorded by Integrity
Who are the
Freeman-on-the-Land?
This is a new movement that has important implications
for both lawyers and notaries. It is not just another fringe group in society.
Freeman-on-the-Land is listed on the FBI’s domestic terror watchlist (www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/september-2011/sovereign-citizens).
People who have been linked to this movement include Terry Nichols and Timothy
McVeigh (of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing).
According to the FBI: “Since 2000, lone-offender
sovereign-citizen extremists have killed six law enforcement officers. In 2010,
two Arkansas police officers stopped sovereign-citizen extremists Jerry Kane
and his 16-year-old son Joseph during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40.
Joseph Kane jumped out of the vehicle and opened fire with an AK-47 assault
rifle, killing both officers.”
These are not just
people with extremist views
“Freemen” (or Sovereign Citizens, Living Souls or Natural
Persons, as they sometimes call themselves) believe that all statute law is
contractual. They further believe that law only governs them if they choose or
consent to be governed. By implication, they believe that, by not consenting,
they can hold themselves independent of government jurisdiction. These
individuals believe that they can live under “common (case) law” and “natural
laws” (per Wikipedia).
Freemen may number up to 30,000 in Canada and hundreds of
thousands in the United States. They believe they can avoid taxes, mortgages,
utility bills and more. They state that they have an unfettered right to travel
(hence their belief that they do not need driver’s licences, licence plates or
insurance). They believe that government-issued identification is somehow
different from the “natural person.” They commonly list their names in the
format of “First:Last” (using a colon in between). They are loosely affiliated
with Canadian “detaxers,” whose tenet is that income taxes do not have to be
paid to the government.
Common symbols
Freeman-on-the-Land follows a common formula. Symbols
that are associated with the movement, and which are found on their documents,
include: Biblical references and religious threats, postage stamps placed on
documents, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) citations in the US, fingerprints and
“blood seals” affixed to documents. They use names for documents that are
either obscure or not recognized in any legal text.
Claims of the Freeman
movement
Freemen claim that the US government (and, in Canada, the
Bank of Canada) has established secret bank accounts for every person. This
idea relies on their “theory of redemption.” For example (from www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/articles/2012/09/sovereign-citizens-a-clear-and-present-danger.aspx):
This theory claims that the United States went bankrupt
in 1933 when it chose to no longer use the gold standard to back up its paper
currency. Needing collateral to trade and conduct commerce with other
countries, the United States began to use citizens as collateral to ensure the
value of its money. Subsequently, secret bank accounts, containing millions of
dollars, were supposedly established by the United States Treasury Department
on behalf of each citizen, or “strawman,” used as collateral. Redemption is
used as a gateway by sovereigns to commit various fraudulent acts all in an
attempt to “redeem their strawman” and access these non-existent secret
Treasury accounts to satisfy various debts, including mortgages, cars, and
credit cards.
Paper “attacks”
Notwithstanding that the Freemen reject the authority of
the state, they do file many private prosecutions and claims of legal rights in
the courts. Typically, they seek costs and orders against public officials,
peace officers and whoever seems to be standing in their way:
The filing of frivolous lawsuits and liens against public
officials, law enforcement officers and private citizens, on the other hand,
has remained a favorite harassing strategy. These paper “attacks” intimidate
their targets and have the beneficial side effect of clogging up a court system
that sovereign citizens believe is illegitimate. Frivolous liens became such a
problem in the 1990s that a majority of states were forced to pass new laws to
make filing them illegal, their removal easier, or both. Today, eager sovereign
citizens can use the Internet to download a variety of boilerplate forms and
documents to wield against the government. More adventurous types can
matriculate at “schools” such as the Erwin Rommel School of Law; additionally,
a number of activists, ranging from David Wynn Miller to The Aware Group, hold
seminars around the country to teach people — for a price — about the latest
tactics and weapons. (www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/SCM.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&
xpicked=4&item=sov)
Freemen rely on bogus documents, such as an
“ecclesiastical notice of private agreement” (see www.scribd.com/doc/68105762/Ecclesiastical-Notice-of-Private-Agreement for
an example of one such document against Clarke Burnett, in his capacity as a
crown prosecutor) or a mandatariat (a demand made on a peace officer to produce
his or her oath of office and qualifications to a Freeman).
They also seek to file liens against individuals, which
can severely damage a person’s credit rating. Many individuals who have been
the subject of these attacks seek to remove their names from public directories
for their own protection. For example, in Meads v. Meads, 2012 ABQC 571, the cover page of the
reasons for decision states:
Editorial Notice: On behalf of the Government of Alberta personal data identifiers
have been removed from this unofficial electronic version of the judgment.
In Meads, Associate Chief Justice J.D. Rooke goes
into great detail regarding the “Organized Pseudolegal Commerical Argument
[“OPCA”] Litigants” and is an excellent review of the Freeman-on-the-Land
movement and how it tries to disrupt court operations and frustrate the legal
rights of governments, corporations and individuals.
These Freeman legal matters are also occurring in BC. BC
Supreme Court Justice Dev Dley recently had to deal with one Darwin Sorenson,
who would not identify himself and spoke of Freeman principles in court.
“I am a declared sovereign” and “My name is Darwin” was
stated in court, according to Cam Fortems of the Kamloops Daily News on November 26, 2012. Darwin refused to
step into the area of the court where litigants typically speak to the court,
saying, “If I enter this area of the courtroom, do I have a contract with the
court?” When Justice Dley warned Darwin that he would have him removed from the
court, Darwin responded that this would cost the Justice a $30,000 fine.
In another case also before Justice Dley, another
Freeman, Brian Alexander, had his appeal dismissed of a justice of the peace’s
decision finding him guilty of failing to produce a valid driver’s licence. His
appeal stated that the court had no jurisdiction.
How do lawyers and
notaries fit into all this?
Freemen have attended law firm and notary offices,
seeking to have their documents “notarized.” The documents have strange
wordings, stamps, blood and finger seals, UCC and biblical references and the
like. They are usually pseudo-legal and completely unlike any legal document
that a lawyer or notary would draw or witness.
In one case in BC, a notary witnessed a series of
documents with names such as a “Notice of Non Response,” a “Notarial
Certificate of Dishonour” and a “Notarial Instrument of Protest,” which led to
the creation of a “True Bill and Notice of Accounting” for the sum of $3.5
billion dollars. These were all stated to be against the BC Court of Appeal. In
this case, the notary apparently witnessed the documents in her capacity as “Notary
Acceptor.” She was disciplined by the Society of Notaries Public for breach of
Rule 11.01 of the Notary Rules, and admitted that her conduct was contrary to
the best interests of the public and the notarial profession.
Lest one believe that only notaries have witnessed and
notarized these documents, there have been instances when BC lawyers too have
been approached about acting in this capacity.
Safety
Since one of the tenets of the Freeman-on-the-Land
movement is an unrestricted right to possess and use firearms, they raise
significant safety and security concerns. They have been known to become angry
when lawyers or notaries have refused to notarize their documents or when
stopped by police officers.
The CBC did an excellent feature on the
Freeman-on-the-Land movement that mentions an affidavit of truth: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/02/29/freeman-movement-canada.html.
It includes video of a Freeman acting up in court.
YouTube has a video showing a routine traffic stop of a
“sovereign citizen” that ended in the death of the two peace officers involved:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sDAyGod5PM.
S. de Léséleuc in Criminal Victimization in the Workplace (Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics,
Statistics Canada, 2004 http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85f0033m/85f0033m2007013-eng.pdf)
stated that 17 per cent of all self-reported violent crimes occurred at the
victim’s place of work. That is over 356,000 incidents of violence in Canadian
workplaces in a single year.
While the Freeman movement represents a small but
potentially growing threat, there remains the possibility that a law office
could face this or other type of security threat. Accordingly, there are two
steps that law offices should consider and implement for the safety of their
workers.
The first is to have a workplace security plan in place
to deal with external threats to those in the office. This plan should include
dealing with an angry and possibly armed individual entering the office. It
should also extend to dealing with potential bomb threats, suspicious packages
being delivered to the office, etc. Everyone in the office should be familiar
with the plan and, like a fire drill, it should receive an occasional trial run
to ensure that everyone understands their role and what is, and is not, to be
done in the circumstances.
Examples of such security plans can be found at:
- University of
Washington (www.washington.edu/admin/police/prevention/Workplace_Security_Plan_current.pdf)
- Michigan Workplace
Security Resource Guide (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CIS_WSH_security_73971_7.htm)
The second is to recognize when a Freeman or sovereign
citizen is attending the office and asking to have documents executed,
witnessed and/or notarized and to take appropriate action in the circumstances.
Lawyers should determine when they are being asked to
notarize documents that they do not recognize and that appear to have no legal
purpose. Lawyers should not be acting in a way that gives a patina of
credibility to a pseudo-legal litigant. Above all, “A lawyer owes a duty to the
state, to maintain its integrity and its law.” (Chapter 1, Rule 1(1) Canons of
Legal Ethics – Professional
Conduct Handbook).
Being prepared to deal with the Freeman-on-the-Land is
simply prudent business planning. After all, notarizing a document isn’t
something to die for.
-------------
Ontario Freeman on the Land member acquitted of hitting officer with his car
KITCHENER — A member of the fringe Freeman on the Land movement avoided jail this week after beating the most serious charges against him for hitting a police officer with his car.Steven Finney, 36, was acquitted of assault with a weapon and assaulting police after a judge found there was reasonable doubt he intended to make contact with an officer trying to arrest him in September.
He was fined $1,500 and prohibited from getting behind the wheel for a year, however, after Justice Michael Epstein convicted him of dangerous driving.
Several counts under the Highway Traffic Act — including driving while suspended and driving without insurance — were dropped by the prosecution Thursday because those details had already been taken into account.
Finney was all smiles as he left Kitchener court a free man but declined comment because he said a previous Record story on his case was filled with lies.
“Have a nice day, sir,” he said.
The Kitchener man got in hot water after going out for coffee on a Sunday morning with homemade “Republic of Kanata” licence plates taped to his car.
Adherents of the Freeman movement believe they can declare themselves sovereign and therefore exempt from government laws by opting out of “contracts” such as health cards and social insurance numbers.
When an officer pulled Finney over for not having real licence plates, he refused to produce documents or identify himself.
The situation escalated when Finney began videotaping the officer, told him he had no authority over him and warned he would be billed $10,000 a second for detaining him.
Several other officers were called for backup, blocked Finney in and tried to arrest him.
He then locked his doors and accelerated, requiring an officer to push off his car to avoid being struck.
The officer, who wasn’t hurt, drew his gun and pointed it at Finney, who was eventually pulled out of the car after his window was smashed with a baton.
Despite the acquittals, Finney did spend about half an hour in custody midway through his one-day trial after he repeatedly interrupted and refused Epstein’s orders to sit down while acting as his own lawyer.
Finney was in jail for three days before getting bail following his arrest, insisting at the time that it was worth it to stand up for his principles.
“What’s better — being a slave under the government or being free?” he asked.
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High School, policing and M.A.D.D. - made this incredible story... I only had just one....
High School, policing and M.A.D.D. - made this incredible story... I only had just one....
Just One
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