INNISFAIL – The controversial case against Natalie Klein has taken a bizarre twist with the issuing of an RCMP news release stating a “clerical error” was made in connection to the March 8 withdrawal of COVID-related charges against the local business owner.
“The RCMP has been made aware in consultation with the Crown’s office that a clerical error occurred. This investigation remains open by the RCMP with the intent of remedying the situation,” said RCMP Staff Sgt. Angela Gilchrist from a news release.
“This is all we are going to be releasing at this time. Because the investigation is ongoing, we aren’t going to be giving any further details,” she added.
The Albertan attempted to contact officials with Alberta’s Justice and Solicitor General ministry for additional clarity to the Klein case but the query was not immediately returned.
The RCMP’s news release followed celebrations on Monday by Klein, co-owner of Innisfail’s Bladez 2 Fadez Barbershop, who went to Red Deer court to face two COVID-related charges in connection to a highly publicized and controversial decision on Jan. 12 to re-open her local barbershop.
She was defying a provincial COVID restriction that all personal service businesses had to remain closed until at least Jan. 21. The province later announced that as of Jan. 18 personal service businesses could open by personal appointment only.
When Klein arrived in Red Deer on March 8, she was told by a court official “there was no case” against her. She then called her lawyer, and was told the Crown withdrew all COVID violation ticket charges against her. Klein said no reason was given for the Crown’s decision to vacate the charges.
The Albertan has also obtained a letter written by a Red Deer Crown prosecutor to the Clerk of the Court at Red Deer’s Provincial Court of Alberta that names Klein and the charges against her.
“The Crown directs the above noted violation tickets are to be withdrawn,” said the letter.
Klein told The Albertan this morning (March 10) the letter is proof the provincial government’s COVID-related charges have been set aside by the Crown’s office.
“If it’s a clerical error then obviously it is a Crown error too because I have a signed letter from the Crown that all charges have been withdrawn,” said Klein, who received the Crown letter on March 9 and sent it to her lawyer the following day. “It was a letter to the clerk, signed, sealed and delivered. I don’t know where the miscommunication is but my lawyer is pretty upset too.”
The Albertan reached out to Klein’s lawyer Chad Williamson but he did not immediately reply to a request for an interview.
“My lawyer is going to get to the bottom of it. If it is truly an error then there is some corruption going on here,” said Klein, adding the turn of events have been upsetting. “I am upset there is some false information. My lawyer will deal with this and hopefully it is the outcome that was originally posted.”
She added no new court date has so far been advanced to her.
“Like I said it was withdrawn,” said Klein. “I have complete faith. If RCMP is saying one thing and the Crown has actually withdrawn I would believe my official Crown prosecutor withdrawal letter because the court does hold a higher standard."
“They just can’t turn around and reinstate charges. That’s not how the legal system works,” she added.
In the meantime, Klein’s battle with the COVID-related provincial charges is being supported by former town councillor Glen Carritt, who accompanied her to Red Deer court on March 8.
“I can’t see how there can be a clerical error when you got it in writing from the Crown prosecutor himself that says the charges have been dropped,” said Carritt. “The clerical error to me is backtracking on a letter that has been sent out and circulated to the particular person who has had those charges.”
