(Quebec) The controversy that has raged for days on the muscular interventions of the Police Department of the City of Quebec (SPVQ) knows a new development with the entry on the scene of the “police force”, which will determine if a policeman committed crimes.
The Independent Investigations Bureau (BEI) confirmed Monday that it would investigate an intervention that occurred on November 20 on the Grande-Allée and another that occurred on October 17 at the bar Le District, in the Saint-Roch district.
A video captured of the first intervention shows a policeman shouting at a man: “Do you want me to gaze you, my osti?” Then the agent pushes him violently against a patrol car.
During the second intervention, images from the security cameras of the District Saint-Joseph show a man thrown forcefully against a wall. In both cases, it would be the same police officer.
During this evening, a couple celebrated an anniversary. The spouse of the man projected in the images explained to Press having decided to publicize the video last week, when stories of muscular arrests began to splash the SPVQ.
“We were deeply traumatized by this evening. We didn’t know what to do. We thought we were powerless, ”explains the woman, who asked us not to write her name“ for fear of reprisals ”. They intend to collaborate with the BEI in its investigation.
COURTESY PHOTO
A man came out with a head injury from a violent intervention by the SPVQ in the St-Joseph District.
Criminal investigation
The SPVQ is in embarrassment since the media coverage of four strong interventions. The police service opened an internal investigation into all these events, as did the police ethics commissioner.
But these disciplinary and ethical investigations are clearly not sufficient. The BEI will conduct a criminal investigation at the request of the SPVQ.
“Following elements gathered over the past few days, we confirm that in two separate events, the investigators of the Professional Standards Module have reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offense would have been committed by a police officer », Wrote the SPVQ in a press release.
“Exceptional” events
The SPVQ investigators first requested help from the Ministry of Public Security (MSP), as provided for in the Police Act.
“Considering the exceptional nature of the events and after discussion with the MSP, it was agreed to transfer these two separate investigations to the Independent Investigations Office”, specifies the SPVQ.
The mayor of Quebec was disturbed by the videos. While reiterating his confidence in his police service, his chief and the internal investigation, Bruno Marchand had spoken of a “problem”.
“The strength of the evidence shows that there is certainly a problem with one or a few police officers, which, in the end, harms the whole image”, had dropped Mr. Marchand on Thursday.
The BEI is asking the public for help. Anyone who has witnessed one of these events can contact him by email: [email protected]