Rally Arrest

May 12, 2011 permalink

At today's meeting outside the courthouse in Bracebridge, Chad Wells was arrested. Revised May 13: Here is a communication from a participant giving the circumstances:

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On Thursday May the 12th there was a protest at the Bracebridge Court house in support of another fellow citizen in Muskoka that has been maliciously attacked by Muskoka CAS. This gentleman asked for all the support protesters could muster up for his day in court. When D H became frustrated with how Muskoka CAS was dealing with his daughter and his ex wife he logged a complaint with CFSRB. Two days after the complaint, Muskoka CAS brought the matter before the court. There have never been any allegations of abuse in the past about Mr. H, but now all of a sudden 3 workers have written affidavits about the physical and emotional abuse caused by Mr. H. This is a well known tactic used by CAS to halt any complaint before the CFSRB. Surprising Turn Of Events: When the protesters assembled at the Bracebridge Court House at 9:30am there was a enormous amount of police presence within minutes. 40mins into the protest two officers from the Muskoka OPP, Officer Conway #9628 and Officer Trask #11511 approached Justice Advocate Chad Wells and asked him to come inside the court house and speak with them. Wells politely declined. At that time Wells was forcibly placed under arrest and handcuffed and taken into custody. According to Wells at no time did the officers tell him what he was being charged with and he was not read his rights at anytime at all. He was taken into a holding cell for 50mins and he was harassed about his involvement in the protest. At one point the officers did confirm with Wells that he was arrested for protesting and collecting petition signatures. According to Wells he was given a choice by the two officers, he would be released from custody only if he left the property and did not further engage in the protest and if he choose to stay he would detained indefinitely. Wells also confirmed with officer Conway that he was directed by someone within the courthouse to have him arrested but Wells said Conway would not release the name of the person. Wells believes that these are some of the extreme measures that officers working with the CAS will take in order to keep the public in the dark. “ These officers have violated my charter of rights and broken the law, they know what they did was wrong. When these sorts of crimes happen by OPP officers it only makes us stronger and gives all the more support in the eyes of the public."

Source: email from anonymous informant

Two other participants report below. Visiting family court is like seeing into hell.

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Vernon Beck

I came back from Bracebridge Court today. Conducted videotaped interviews with three young persons who all have unpleasant and damaging experiences with CAS workers coming into the schools unlawfully. One young person told me how the CAS in Huntsville took her from a safe environment and put her in an abusive environment. One young person told me how Justice Wood of the Bracebridge court was the cause of his years of abuse by the CAS. I literally had dozens of parents approach me at the courthouse complaining about CAS and the courts.

One thing that impresses me is how these young people seem to understand the importance of standing up to get the truth out. I see this next generation of kids shutting down these out of control family courts in the not too distant future. It is coming.

May 12, 2011

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Jason Fallas

Cutting in to profit margins. I'd like to share a thought I had on the way back from the Bracebridge courthouse. CAS receives more money than families make in a year per child in their care. We all know legal fees can add up quickly. I noted that the parents that were fighting CAS in court had far more favorable outlooks on the future. As well they had made progress toward resolving the issues. Meaning getting their children returned, securing visitation, removal of CAS from their life. If the CAS gets $50k for your child, and you take them to court and fight them the legal fees add up eating into their profit margin. Since it is their reputation on the line they must fight. What can be taken from this thought is that if you fight, if you cost them money, your child has less value to them as a cash commodity. You're eating into their profit margins, if looked at as a business venture. If the investment doesn't pay out, they cut their losses, eg: adoption or returning your child. We have all heard the accounts from parents where CAS has attempted to vilify them and punish them for fighting back. Of course they would, its eating their profits. Parents fighting back = loss of revenue, if looked at in a broader application encompassing the family law system. You also get to see how the courts including judges and lawyers profit from this egregious symbiotic relationship. As a parting commentary on what I have personally witnessed while observing families exiting family court. Anguish. Tears. Fear and resigned disbelief. I didn't see anyone walk out of that court house with a smile on their face. No one. I heard heart wracking sobs, plaintive wailing stemming from despair. I put to anyone, if there was true justice being done why does everyone look like they just saw into hell after walking out of a family court?

May 13, 2011

Source: Facebook, Canada Court Watch

Vern Beck collected this personal story (mp4).

Addendum: The Forester printed a picture of the event.

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PROTEST. A group from the organization Court Watch was on hand to protest at the Bracebridge Courthouse on Thursday. The group’s mandate is to increase accountability with the Children’s Aid Society and family court system.

Source: Huntsville Forester, May 18, 2011 page 12

Addendum: Attila L Vinczer interviews Chad Wells' niece on the day of the arrest. YouTube, local copy (mp4).