Four people charged after RCMP vehicles damaged in Cape Breton cannabis raid protest

Four men are facing charges after a protest at a First Nations cannabis shop allegedly led to damaged police vehicles.

Four men are facing charges following a raid and protest at a First Nations cannabis shop in Potlotek, N.S., earlier this month.

RCMP executed a search warrant at a cannabis storefront in the 12000 block of Highway 4 on April 2.

Police arrested two people and seized cannabis products.

A group of protesters then blocked the road using heavy equipment.

Similar protests also sprung up at other locations in the province.

Police say officers who were at the Potlotek store took their service weapons out of their vehicles and left on foot.

Six vehicles were found damaged the next day and three sets of hard body armour were missing from them.

Photos of the recovered vehicles shared by the RCMP show an unmarked police car missing its wheels, while glass windows were shattered and tires slashed on several of the SUVs.

RCMP officers executed four search warrants as part of their investigation.

Police say they were executed to get video footage related to the incident and to recover a floor jack and other items.

“Officers also seized a loaded SKS rifle with a high‑capacity magazine and a shotgun at a residence; neither firearm is an RCMP-issued weapon,” reads a news release from the force.

Four men are facing several charges related to the investigation.

Jonathan Lindsay Paul, 46, of Membertou, is charged with:

• mischief over $5,000 (six counts)
• 24 counts of mischief
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

The other three men have been charged with mischief under $5,000:

• Maurice Ellery Francis, 33, of Potlotek
• Evan Michael Johnson, 30, of Potlotek
• Shamus Daniel Stone, 19, of River Bourgeois

All four men have been released on conditions and are scheduled to appear in Port Hawkesbury provincial court on June 11.

Police say the three sets of body armour are still missing.

Their investigation is ongoing.

The RCMP says anyone with information should call them at 902-258-2213 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from The Canadian Press

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