Embroiled in a major crisis since last week, Quebec police acknowledged Monday that one of their officers may have committed criminal offenses during two fierce interventions that raised controversy.
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“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 “, Announced the police force by press release.
These facts were brought to the attention of the Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, who asked the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) to examine the two allegations. These target a single police officer.
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The two interventions have in common the fact that they feature an agent forcefully pushing a suspect and having gone viral after the broadcast of video clips.
The Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) and the BEI, however, have not yet specified the nature of the suspected breaches.
The first event took place at District Saint-Joseph, a restaurant-bar in Lower-Town Quebec, on October 17. The man arrested was reportedly injured in the head and suffered a concussion, according to his account.
The other dates back to November 20, 2021 in the Grande Allée sector.
“Questionable” interventions
For the former inspector of the Police Department of the City of Montreal Guy Ryan, the two interventions “are questionable on the use of the necessary force”, even if it is necessary to remember “that one does not see the whole of the operation ”.
“Was it really necessary to push these people abruptly?” […] If the Quebec police decided to send this to the BEI, it is because they see […] anomalies, ”he points out.
On the other hand, it is reassuring that an independent entity takes over the investigation, because the SPVQ cannot be “judge and party”, adds the analyst.
If the force used is found to be unreasonable, a peace officer may be convicted of common assault or even assault causing bodily harm. Under the Criminal Code, these offenses are punishable by imprisonment for up to five and ten years, respectively.
Suspended with pay
According to what has been learned, the police officer who is the subject of the allegations has not been arrested and has not been the subject of any formal charges to date.
He is one of five police officers who were suspended with pay last week, and remains so.
Minister Geneviève Guilbault said she took action to ensure that “a strong bond of trust between our citizens and our police officers” was maintained while emphasizing “the speed and rigor” shown by the SPVQ, according to her, in the study of this file.
The BEI, an independent organization sometimes referred to as “the police of the police”, invited the witnesses of the two cases to contact it at [email protected].
Depending on the progress of his investigation, he could send his observations to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), who will lay charges if he deems it appropriate.
Internal investigation
For its part, the SPVQ will continue its internal investigation into the other denunciations received, in connection with the interventions near the Dagobert and the Portofino de Sainte-Foy, on the night of November 26 to 27.
Last Thursday, police chief Denis Turcotte promised to get to the “bottom of it”. He had expressed concern about what could be seen in the videos released to the public, while noting that they only told part of the story.
Two events under the magnifying glass of BEI investigators
Date: October 17, 2021
Restaurant-bar District Saint-Joseph
A surveillance camera recorded a police officer putting both hands on a client’s chest and forcefully pushing him against a wall in a corridor of the establishment. The man hits his head against the wall and collapses and is handcuffed by three policemen. The man in his thirties is said to have split his head and suffered a concussion, according to what he and his wife said in an interview with the Newspaper. He was fined $ 255 for disturbing the peace. The couple denounced disproportionate conduct on the part of the police while acknowledging having violated health rules by dancing without wearing a mask during the evening.
Date: November 20, 2021
Sector of Grande Allée and rue De la Chevrotière
A 15-second amateur video shows a policeman saying to a man, “Do you want me to gaze you, my ostia?” Before throwing it violently against a police patrol of the City of Quebec. No other information has filtered out on the circumstances surrounding the police intervention, which took place in the presence of several individuals.