NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Says Police Have Double Standard When It Comes To Treatment Of White And Non-White Suspects

The Canadian Armed Forces member Corey Hurren had multiple firearms when he tried to ram into PM Justin Trudeau’s residence. Hurren is also accused of uttering a threat to 'cause death or bodily harm' to Trudeau.

OTTAWA – Canadian soldier Corey Hurren had multiple firearms when he tried to ram into PM Justin Trudeau’s residence. 

The Canadian Armed Forces member is facing a long list of charges after breaching the grounds at Rideau Hall last week. He allegedly had multiple firearms in his possession at the time, and is accused of uttering a threat against the prime minister, according to recently filed court documents, reported CBC News.

Hurren, 46, was charged with 22 criminal charges last Friday — a day after he allegedly drove a truck onto the official residence grounds and set out on foot toward the prime minister's home.

According to information sworn by an RCMP officer, Hurren allegedly had the following loaded firearms with him:

He's also accused of uttering a threat or conveying a threat to "cause death or bodily harm" to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to the court document.

Most of the 22 charges are firearm-related; they include careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm and unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle.

Police say Hurren, a Manitoba resident who serves as a Canadian Ranger, drove his truck through the pedestrian gate at 1 Sussex Drive at around 6:30 a.m. ET Thursday morning and then headed toward the ground's greenhouse on foot with what appeared to be a firearm.

Police say officers made visual contact with him about 13 minutes later and tried talking to him soon after. Hurren responded at 6:53, according to the RCMP, and was arrested almost 90 minutes later.

While the charge details provide more information about what Hurren allegedly had in his possession, questions about his actions linger.

A source told CBC News that the suspect had a note with him when he drove from Manitoba to Ottawa; the RCMP did not answer questions about the note during a Friday morning briefing, citing the ongoing investigation.

There is also talk about how Hurren was treated by police. They captured a man carrying numerous weapons but another police force in Toronto killed an unarmed Muslim-Canadian man suffering from mental illness.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he believes last week's incident at Rideau Hall — in which a Canadian Armed Forces member allegedly breached the grounds while carrying several firearms — would have ended differently if the suspect had been a person of colour.

During a press conference on Wednesday Singh called the incident an example of "domestic terrorism" and said it is also a reminder of "how systemic racism is real."

"This person showed up with weapons, publicly, at the residence of the prime minister of Canada and was arrested without being killed," Singh said.

Singh drew comparisons to Ejaz Choudry, a 62-year-old man who was fatally shot by police during a mental health crisis in his apartment in Mississauga, Ont.

Singh said the contrast between the two incidents is "what systemic racism in policing is all about."

Choudry's death is currently being investigated by Ontario's police watchdog.

Green Party MP and former leader Elizabeth May echoed Singh's sentiments earlier in the day, drawing comparisons to the deaths of Choudry, Rodney Levi, Chantel Moore, D'Andre Campbell and Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who all died during interactions with police.

"They were all killed during so-called wellness checks and they were all either Indigenous, Black or people of colour," May said, while Hurren was arrested peacefully during what she called "a criminal act with intention to kill."

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer was also asked about the Rideau Hall incident during his own press conference. He said he was deeply concerned for Trudeau and his family but added that he wouldn't speculate on the suspect's motives while the RCMP are investigating.

"Any kind of threat against an individual at any level of government is completely unacceptable and needs to be dealt with very, very seriously," Scheer said.

While Singh said he was glad that the prime minister and his family were not harmed during the incident at Rideau Hall, he did not mince words on what he says is a lack of action from Trudeau on systemic racism in policing.

"[Trudeau] has done less to address police brutality and violence than even [U.S. President Donald] Trump has done. That is shameful," Singh said.

Courtesy CBC News