A manager of the Bordeaux prison was relieved of his duties on Thursday following the death of an inmate on December 24.
The Quebec Ministry of Public Security confirmed in an email to The Canadian Press on Saturday that the manager “was relieved of his duties on the evening of December 29”.
“For reasons of confidentiality, no nominative information will be disclosed,” added the ministry.
A correctional services officer had already been temporarily relieved of his duties at the Montreal Detention Establishment, “under the preliminary analysis of the events by the ministry’s deputy minister of correctional services”.
Illegal detention
Nicous D’Andre Spring, 21, was illegally detained at the Montreal Detention Facility at the time of the event where he was allegedly seriously injured. His death was pronounced at the hospital.
The Department of Public Safety said D’Andre Spring should have been released the day before following a video appearance earlier in the day.
The Sûreté du Québec and the Coroner’s Office are currently conducting investigations to understand the thread of events. The Department of Public Safety has also initiated an administrative investigation into the death and unlawful detention of D’Andre Spring.
“It is up to the police to determine whether charges should be laid following a criminal investigation,” the ministry said in an email.
Vigil
D’Andre Spring appeared in court on December 23 for assaulting a peace officer, criminal harassment and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He also faced two counts of breaching a condition of release. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
D’Andre Spring was also charged multiple times in 2021 with breaching a condition of release, as well as one count of assaulting a police officer. In 2020, he was charged with robbery, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.
On Friday evening, about 150 people gathered for a candlelight vigil at Benny Park in Montreal’s Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood in memory of D’Andre Spring.