Man arrested for ‘alleged incursion’ at B.C. ostrich farm, RCMP say

RCMP say one man was arrested Friday at the B.C. ostrich farm at the centre of a legal fight with federal authorities.

A man was arrested Friday for an “alleged incursion” at the B.C. ostrich farm embroiled in an ongoing legal battle against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, according to authorities.

The B.C. RCMP said officers took a man into custody under the Health of Animals Act for obstructing CFIA agents from performing their duties at the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood.

“He allegedly breached the perimeter of the Universal Ostrich Farm property that continues to be subject to a CFIA warrant,” the RCMP said in a news release.

“The man was processed and later released on conditions not to attend the property.”

Authorities have not shared the man’s name, and said their investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Social media presenter Jim Kerr, who has been at the farm since April, shared a video of the incident on Facebook with the caption, “Breaking news: Jim Kerr was arrested today.”

The farm’s owners have been fighting to prevent a cull of their ostriches ordered by the CFIA last December following an outbreak of avian flu on the property.

They are now awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada on whether to hear a last-ditch appeal of the cull.

That decision is not expected to be made until at least Oct. 30.

With files from The Canadian Press