Steinbach-area cleric arrested on public-health order violation gets bail

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This article was published 19/10/2021 (1163 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba pastor will be released from custody after agreeing not to organize or incite any gathering to oppose public-health measures.

Tobias Tissen appeared by video in bail court Wednesday morning and was released with the consent of the Crown as long as he pays a $1,000 cash bail deposit, agrees to be bound by several court conditions and promises to pay $1,000 if those conditions are violated.

Tissen, a pastor at the Church of God Restoration near Sarto, was arrested Monday night in Steinbach for a charge under the provincial Public Health Act. He’s accused of violating public-health orders on May 15, the same day a large anti-mask rally was held in Winnipeg. Tissen has repeatedly spoken out at anti-mask and anti-lockdown rallies. Prior to his arrest, he was fined several times for violations of public-health orders.

In addition to standard court-imposed conditions, including promising to show up in court when required and not moving to a new address without notifying the court, Tissen promised he would not organize any gathering related to COVID-19 prevention orders or incite others to do so, regardless of the size of the gathering. The condition is not intended to inhibit his right to hold regular religious gatherings or stop him from performing his duties as a pastor and was agreed upon by Crown and defence lawyers.

Tissen is also bound by court orders not to contact five people. His next court appearance is set for Nov. 4 in Steinbach.

Wednesday’s court appearance was brief; Tissen replied “yes, sir” when provincial court Judge Brent Stewart asked him if he understood the conditions of his release. He was not wearing a mask during his video appearance, unlike other inmates, but he had a disposable mask that he appeared to be putting on after the hearing, when he was about to be led back into custody.

The arrest warrant for Tissen had been outstanding for about five months as of Monday. An off-duty RCMP officer in Steinbach spotted Tissen in his vehicle and notified other officers about his location, leading to the arrest.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay