A Sûreté du Québec (SQ) sergeant and a 35-year-old man were killed in a police operation in Louiseville on Monday evening, March 27. According to initial information, the policewoman was stabbed by the suspect, who was subsequently shot.
Posted 6:05am Updated 6:12am
Police confirmed the death of Sergeant Maureen Breau via press release Tuesday morning. She reportedly succumbed to her injuries after being stabbed by a suspect during an intervention. The Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) has also launched an investigation in connection with this incident, which took place around 8:30 p.m. Monday.
A police duo is said to have arrested a man because of threats in an apartment building.
“During the arrest, upon reading the rights, the individual took a knife he had nearby, then used it towards the police and he hit a policewoman,” the BEI states.
A second pair of patrol officers, who were also there to make the arrest, would have shot at the person’s spot. The 35-year-old died after being shot.
Sergeant Breau had just over 20 years of SQ experience and was assigned to the post of MRC Maskinongé.
Another police officer was injured in the operation. The SQ states that his life is not in danger.
“Such ordeal reminds us of the dangers of the police profession in the face of extreme situations such as those endured by Sergeant Breau, her fellow police officers and the emergency communications personnel who assisted them on this mission. I offer my sincere condolences to his spouse, children, family and colleagues,” said Johanne Beausoleil, Director General of the SQ, in a press release.
Five BEI investigators were assigned to investigate the intervention. Given the circumstances of the event, the support services of a police force, namely the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), were required.
A parallel criminal investigation into the events was assigned to the SPVM.