[2][3] In January 2022, people protested in Coutts about their objections to public health measures implemented by Canadian governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
[5] Due to the perceived emergency, no prior judicial authorisation was obtained for the wiretaps, as is permitted by the Criminal Code of Canada.
[1][5] Police officers stated that they observed Olienick, Chris Carbert, and Jerry Morin receiving a package.
[1] Three trailers located in Coutts were searched by police who found fifteen firearms, ammunition, and body-armour with a Diagolon patch.
[1] Another search of property owned by Anthony Olienick in rural Alberta discovered 36,098 rounds of ammunition, two pipe bombs, and several firearms.
[1][4] Anthony Olienick, Chris Carbert, Christopher Lysak, and Jerry Morin were arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder.
[11] During police interviews, Anthony Olienick shared predictions that the Government of Canada sought to destroy the middle class, install a communist regime before the start of executions and use of gas chambers.
[23] During police interviews, Carbert expressed a desire to encourage Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to resign.
[1] Carbert will be tried together with the three other co-accused, skipping the preliminary inquiry stage and proceeding directly to the Court of King's Bench of Alberta.
[8] He posted a video to his Facebook page in which he repeated statements that he was ready to die while protesting government imposed public health measures.
[27] Morin will be tried together with the three other co-accused, skipping the preliminary inquiry stage and proceeding directly to the Court of King's Bench of Alberta.
"[1] Checkley also told Lethbridge provincial court that "The message and a related followup text...stated the protest was not just about ending vaccine and public health mandates but altering Canada's political, justice and medical systems, including the elimination of a group of people referred to as the professional political class,"[1] and that someone whose name was redacted "also shared the above message...in a group text chat with Carbert, Lysak and Olienick.”[1] Court documents released in December 2022 indicated that police believe the four accused were being directed by remote leadership.
[citation needed] A convoy of 235 vehicles drove from Lethbridge to the Coutts border crossing on January 30, 2023 as part of a wider campaign of support for the four accused.