Four people are facing criminal charges of Mischief and Disobeying Order of Court after enforcement action last night at the site of the Co-op Refinery Complex. This is the site of a labour dispute involving both national and local members of Unifor and Federated Co-operatives Limited.
As the result of ongoing investigation, Regina Police Service members arrested and charged four males at approximately 12:42 a.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. The accused are:
- Forty-one year-old Ryan James David BRIGGS, of Drinkwater, Saskatchewan;
- Thirty year-old James Peter Robert CHEESEMAN, of Regina;
- Thirty-four year-old Scott McKINNON, of Southey, Saskatchewan; and
- Forty-five year-old Steve Angus VARGO, of Regina.
Each person is charged with Mischief under $5,000: “Commit Mischief by willfully obstructing, interrupting or interfering with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property, to wit: Co-op Refinery Complex of a value not exceeding five thousand dollars, the property of Consumers Co-operative Refineries Limited, contrary to section 430(4) of the Criminal Code”; and Disobeying Court Order: “Without lawful excuse disobey a lawful court order by the Court of Queen’s Bench for the Province of Saskatchewan on the 27th day of December, 2019, by Justice J.E. McMurtry by impeding, obstructing, or interfering with the ingress or egress to or from the property possessed by the Consumers Co-operative Refineries, contrary to section 127 of the Criminal Code”.
These individuals were released on officer undertakings and will make their first court appearance on these charges in Provincial Court on March 23, 2020.