3 protesters arrested at Site C dam project

Three protesters at a construction site for the Site C dam near Fort St. John in northern B.C. have been arrested for blocking vehicles from entering the work site, RCMP said late Wednesday in a statement.

Cpl. Dave Tyreman said RCMP received a report of protesters blocking the roadway shortly after 10 a.m. PT. When officers arrived, he said, they found a man and woman blocking vehicles.

"Both parties were requested by police to move to the side of the road," said Tyreman. "When the man refused, he was advised by police that he was committing a criminal offence by not moving and advised to move."

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Tyreman said the man was arrested for mischief and escorted to the RCMP detachment.

He said more protesters arrived at noon and were also asked to move aside, but two of them refused and were arrested.

The RCMP says it "respects the right to democratic and lawful protest," but also have a responsibility to enforce the criminal code.