A resident of Ahuntsic-Cartierville suffers from serious paralysis following a police intervention that went wrong at the end of September in front of a school in this area of northern Montreal, we have learned. The Press.
The two officers from the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) involved in the intervention were assigned to administrative tasks while the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) shed light on the situation.
The woman in question was reportedly arrested and physically restrained in front of a school where her child was, on September 26 as she left classes. A court order prohibited contact between the mother and the minor, prompting the school to call the police.
“The person became agitated and aggressive towards one of the police officers. The agents would then have arrested the person and brought them to the ground in order to handcuff them behind their back,” describes the BEI in a press release released at the end of September without making waves.
After the arrest, which occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m., the woman “would have mentioned having pain in her neck”, describes the BEI.
A few minutes later, when the police wanted to release her, she “mentioned being unable to go out and she mentioned having pain in her neck as well as tingling in her limbs.”
Left on the ground
It was ultimately the police themselves who took the woman out of the patrol car “and then placed her on the ground on her back” in front of her home. The police then left the scene.
“The person would have remained on the ground on the sidewalk near his residence,” continued the BEI. Calls were made to 911 by citizens for an ambulance around 4:49 p.m., because the person mentioned that they could no longer feel their limbs. » She would have spent around fifteen minutes on the ground.
Stéphane Smith, spokesperson for Urgences-santé, limited himself to confirming that paramedics had indeed intervened to help a woman lying on the ground that day, late in the afternoon.
According to our information, the woman involved still suffers from serious paralysis, almost a month after the events. The Press could not establish with certainty the nature of the problem which afflicts him. The BEI must also shed light on the causal link between the arrest and the health problem.
One thing is certain, she was “operated for serious injuries” in a hospital center, according to the BEI.
“Confidential” event, says school service center
All those involved declined to comment on the situation.
The BEI notably refused to specify the nature of the “serious injuries” suffered by the woman in this case. The organization also refused to reveal the location where it had deployed its command post in order to collect clues, a few days later.
According to a source, BEI investigators are analyzing in particular compliance – by police officers – with the article of the Criminal Code which forces any peace officer to come to the aid of a person in difficulty who is in detention.
“Neither the school management nor the CSSDM will make any comment on this subject,” indicated Alain Perron, spokesperson for the Montreal school service center (CSSDM), when The Press asked if psychological support was offered to the staff involved. “We invite you to respect the confidential aspect of this event with parents and members of school staff. » Mr. Perron did not want to specify how this event was “confidential”.
In front of the school where the arrest took place, staff members directed The Press towards the local director, who did not want to answer our questions. Several residents in the immediate area claimed to have been visited by BEI investigators in late September or early October, but none had witnessed the physical intervention itself.
“Since there is an investigation by the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI), it is to them that you must address your request,” indicated the SPVM, refusing to specify whether its men had actually been assigned to administrative tasks.
The Brotherhood of Police Officers of Montreal (FPPM) did not want to comment on the matter.
Calling all
Did you witness this event or have details about it?