Anti-racism protester Taylor McNallie arrested in courtroom moments after assault conviction

Within minutes of anti-racism advocate Taylor McNallie being convicted Thursday of assault and mischief after incidents at the Calgary Courts Centre, two police officers entered the courtroom and arrested her again.

McNallie was taken into police custody on charges related to a protest in May outside Western Canada High School on International Day Against Homophobia. Calgary police say a youth and a man were victims of a group assault. 

Police have labelled McNallie's new charges — assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement — as hate-motivated.

At the time, police said a fight broke out between supporters of the rally and those who opposed it.

Just before her arrest Thursday, McNallie was in court to receive the verdict following her trial in March.

Group protested cop's sentence

McNallie was accused of assaulting an off-duty sheriff and a photographer outside the Calgary Courts Centre in the summer of 2021. She was acquitted of assaulting the photographer but convicted of assaulting the off-duty sheriff.

She was also found guilty of mischief for breaking the photographer's glasses and pouring water on his equipment.

Over a two-week period, McNallie and others gathered in front of the Calgary courthouse, protesting the sentence handed to Const. Alex Dunn. The alleged it wasn't enough.

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Dunn had been convicted of assault causing bodily harm and, at the time, had been handed a one-month sentence, to be served at home, for the violent assault of a young Black woman. 

McNallie and other protesters were calling for Dunn to be fired. 

Sheriff hit with megaphone

During the trial, Justice Peter Barley was shown security footage showing McNallie throwing water at the photographer, pouring it over his camera.

The photographer, who was taking photos of the protest at the time, testified his equipment was ruined. 

McNallie also allegedly broke his glasses after grabbing them off his head.

A week later, three sheriffs were standing near the courthouse doors when McNallie approached and appeared to be taking a video.

A female sheriff who was dressed in workout gear grabbed for her cellphone. McNallie hit the off-duty sheriff in the head with a megaphone. 

Barley will hear sentencing submissions from defence lawyer Chad Haggerty and prosecutor James Pickard later this year.