The two inspectors from the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) who had been involved in the muscular arrest of a black woman in the metro, in April, “were justified in using force”, concludes an independent expert, who however, makes several recommendations.
“After having considered all the circumstances, I conclude that the inspectors involved in the event were justified in using force and that this force was reasonable”, writes the lawyer in police ethics, Marco Gaggino, in his report. public Tuesday evening. He recognizes, however, that the scene “has something to disturb, even shock”.
It was at the Jean-Talon metro station in mid-April that the event occurred. In a video posted on social networks, we see two STM inspectors trying to subdue a black woman on the station platform. One of the officers repeatedly hits this person, who screams and struggles, while passers-by try to intervene.
At the time, the case had made the rounds of the web. The images had been described as “disturbing” by Mayor Valérie Plante. The STM then mandated Mr.e Gaggino to “respond to concerns expressed by the public”.
In his report, the lawyer notes at the outset that there is nothing to conclude that racial profiling was at the origin of the intervention. On the contrary, he says, “all of the actions taken were based on purely objective motives.”
An idea of the sequence
The woman was first arrested because she had “stepped over a turnstile giving access to the metro” without having paid. The internal surveillance cameras then show “an interaction between the inspectors and this subject lasting approximately 17 minutes”, notes Me Gaggino. “During this period, we see these people discussing and nowhere do we see aggressive or inappropriate gestures. The only force used during this time is light, either to escort the subject towards a wall. ”
It was then that she “fled the custody of the inspectors by running towards the metro platform”. “The pursuit and control of the subject were the only options available in the circumstances given the danger of serious injury or death that was the proximity of the subway track”, according to the opinion of the lawyer.
During the operation, the woman was beaten in order to restrain her. The latter in turn allegedly bit one of the two inspectors in the thigh. The STM employee had to be hospitalized after the fact.
Body cameras?
Even if he does not blame the inspectors, the lawyer recommends that the STM “review the coverage of its internal cameras in the metro” to ensure that there are no “blind spots” in places where inspectors are likely to intervene. He also suggests that the company seriously consider “providing inspectors with body cameras, with audio capability.”
We also read that it would be wise for the transporter to offer its inspectors “theoretical and practical training on foot pursuit, adapted to the reality of the STM for underground interventions”. “This training should include guidelines allowing the inspector to assess whether a foot pursuit is justified, safe and proportional to the circumstances,” says the lawyer.
“We take note of this external report and we will analyze its three recommendations, both in terms of our processes and best practices in force in the public transport service safety industry,” promised the Director General on this subject. from the STM, Luc Tremblay.
With Isabelle Ducas