Tougher searches in courthouses: 160 dangerous objects seized in 10 days after the bloody attack on a court interpreter in Longueuil

In just 10 days, a total of 160 weapons and dangerous objects were found on users at the entrance to the courthouses of Longueuil, Laval and Saint-Jérôme, after more rigorous searches were carried out following a bloody attack last month.

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“It’s terrible! This is the best proof that it is necessary to have security arches in courthouses,” proclaims M.^e Guillaume Michaud, president of the Association of Criminal and Penal Prosecutors.

Without a checkpoint at the entrance to the Longueuil courthouse at that time, an individual was able to present himself there on January 9, armed with four knives. He then stabbed a court interpreter in a cubicle.

As of January 16, when many voices were raised to deplore the lack of protection for those involved in the judicial system, security measures were imposed in three courthouses in greater Montreal. In Longueuil, special constables now pass a metal detector stick on each visitor, in addition to searching their personal effects.

In Laval and Saint-Jérôme, for the moment we are limiting ourselves to a summary search of bags and coats.

Tip of the iceberg

During the first 10 days after the implementation of these measures, no less than 160 weapons and dangerous objects were seized by special constables, according to data obtained by the Ministry of Public Security of Quebec.

However, this figure only includes objects voluntarily abandoned by users during security checks.

If a constable finds a knife, penknife, exacto, scissors or any other dangerous object, but not illegal, the holder is asked to take it to his car, otherwise, he will have to get rid of it.

In Laval and Saint-Jérôme, constables intercepted 66 dangerous objects in each palace. In Longueuil, where 28 items were confiscated, the widespread media coverage of the attack seems to have raised people’s awareness.

Figures which nevertheless worry those involved in the legal sector interviewed by The newspaper.

“Every time we remove a knife or a pair of scissors, even if the person is not acting in bad faith, we potentially avoid a tragedy. And it’s reassuring for everyone who visits the courthouse, whether for employees, a victim, a citizen, a lawyer, a judge or a journalist,” said the president of the Union of Special Constables, Franck Perales, recalling that last month’s bloody attack could have been avoided if such search points had already been in place at the time.

Emotions and tensions

“We are talking about a place where there are emotions, tensions, where we bring together people with a greater possibility of committing or having already committed criminal acts,” insisted criminalist M^e Marie-Pier Boulet, president of the Quebec Association of Defense Lawyers, adding that an armed person who becomes disorganized is obviously more dangerous than if he or she is not armed.

But until complete checkpoints are established like in Montreal, it is urgent to at least impose summary searches in all courthouses in Quebec, insists M^e Michaud, recalling that the metropolis did not have a monopoly on crime.

No prohibited weapons were seized between January 16 and 29 in Longueuil, Laval and Saint-Jérôme.

The man accused of attempted murder, Alexandre Garcés, returns to court on February 22. The victim, Hai Thach, should leave the hospital soon.

– With Michaël Nguyen