Arthur Hadland, former Peace River politician, charged after Site C protest
'I don't want to be a hero but someone has to speak for the river'
A long time politician and area farmer has been charged with mischief after being arrested at a Site C dam protest yesterday near Fort St John.
Arthur Hadland was released at 9:00 p.m. PT Wednesday night after being held for almost 12 hours. He was arrested while blocking traffic at the BC Hydro dam construction site.
"I don't want to be a hero," Hadland told CBC News. "Someone has to speak for the river."
Hadland is a former Peace River Regional District director. He also ran as an independent in the riding of Peace River North in the 2013 provincial election.
He said police initially told him he would be held until the protest was over, then released without charges.
But in the end he was charged with mischief.
Hadland called his first time in the cells "a little uncomfortable."
RCMP say two other protesters were also arrested Wednesday.
People opposed to Site C posted on social media through the evening about Hadland's arrest.
The $9-billion Site C dam project will flood an 80 kilometre swathe of Peace River farmland.
With files from Betsy Trumpener