A heavy police presence remains in downtown Ottawa as authorities look to end a weeks-long occupation of the city's core.
On Saturday, officers from multiple forces advanced aggressively to clear the area in front of Parliament Hill.
https://twitter.com/ottawacity/status/1495132587655938049
In a press conference, Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said that police needed to add helmets and batons to their uniforms in response to protestors acting aggressively.
Bell also said that officers used pepper spray in an effort to clear the crowds.
https://twitter.com/OttawaPolice/status/1495086737009299459
Police said that there have now been 170 arrests made, with nearly 80 of them occurring on Friday and Saturday.
https://twitter.com/OttawaPolice/status/1495150221160034314
Three of the organizers of the demonstration have been apprehended.
Both Tamara Lich and Christopher Barber were arrested on Friday, February 18, while Patrick King was arrested early Saturday morning.
Saturday's press conference by the OPS can be viewed here.
