The 28-year-old Saguenéen, possibly the victim of a kidnapping believed to be linked to drug trafficking, was found in the middle of the street in Montreal on the night of Wednesday to Thursday with a severed finger and toe.
• Read also: Possible kidnapping in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Michael Chouinard who was missing was found shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday near Bélanger Street and 42nd Avenue in the Rosemont area of Montreal.
“Photo courtesy, Saguenay Police Department”
Early Wednesday evening, the Saguenay Police Service (SPS) reported the disappearance of the man, citing fears for his safety.
Information obtained by our Bureau of Investigation then suggested that Chouinard could be kidnapped and that his disappearance would be linked to organized crime and the war that a group of independent traffickers and the Hells Angels have been waging for several months.
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His presence in the street was reported to the police after he asked for help from a driver who was passing at the time.
Michael Chouinard was located with a severed finger and toe on Bélanger Street, between 42nd and 43rd Avenues in the Rosemont neighborhood of Montreal, around 2:30 a.m., Thursday, February 22, 2024. PASCAL GIRARD/AGENCE QMI
“Photo Pascal Girard/AGENCE QMI”
Relatives relieved
Visibly worried, the mother of the 28-year-old man, Melany Chouinard, launched a call for help on Wednesday evening on her social networks, sharing the photo of her son.
She has been less active on social media since he was found. She still wanted to publish a word of thanks to the many people who circulated the news of her son’s disappearance.
“For Michael’s friends, he is doing well despite everything. […] Thank you everyone for sharing,” she said, adding that she was heading to Montreal to join him.
“Photo Pascal Girard/AGENCE QMI”
The newspaper tried to contact relatives of Mr. Chouinard on Thursday, but without success. Some of them, however, let it be known that they were very relieved through their social networks.
Little history
Chouinard, a dealer, would have already worked for the Saguenéen All Boivin, formerly wanted following a vast anti-drug operation. Boivin, an independent, is also in conflict with the Hells in Saguenay.
In 2017, Chouinard pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.
The following year, in 2018, he also pleaded guilty twice to failing to comply with a probation order.
The Sûreté du Québec has not released any further information about this new episode in the war waged by traffickers.
– With the collaboration of Maxime Deland, Agence QMI
An eventful week
The various police forces in the province have been kept on edge since the beginning of the week, so the war between the Hells Angels and rebel traffickers from a group led by young boss Dave Pic Turmel has reached another level.
- During the night from Sunday to Monday, Patrick Martin, a 29-year-old man, lost his life and three other individuals aged 21 to 51 suffered injuries in Saint-Malachie. Martin was allegedly killed by a tortured hostage who managed to break free.
- Henchmen from the gang led by Turmel filmed themselves beating and torturing two close friends of the Hells Angels. This display of brutal violence is reminiscent of that of the Mexican drug cartels.
- Early Wednesday evening, Michael Chouinard, a 28-year-old from Saguenéen, had not been found for 24 hours, according to his family.
- He was found in Montreal on Thursday night with a finger and a toe missing.
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