Rexton shale gas protester charged for threatening media

A man from the Elsipogtog First Nation has been charged after a confrontation last fall at the site of fracking protests on Highway 134 near Rexton.

The man is charged with mischief, intimidation and uttering threats in connection with a confrontation with media.

On Oct. 19, three journalists and two technicians from three separate news agencies were reporting in Rexton, taking footage of the wreckage of several RCMP vehicles that were destroyed by fire during a protest.

RCMP allege the news agencies were told to leave the area and were ordered to leave their media vehicles and equipment behind.

On Jan. 6, 2014, 24-year-old Tyson Peters was arrested in Shediac, in connection with the incident. He appeared in Moncton Provincial Court on Tuesday and was charged with three counts of mischief, five counts of intimidation, and one count of uttering threats to damage a journalist's equipment.

He was also charged with uttering threats towards an employee of a private security firm working in Rexton, in connection with an incident that occurred on Sept. 30.

Peters was released on conditions, and is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 17.