Nicous D’Andre Springs’ family remains unanswered for several days after his death.
• Also read: A Bordeaux prison manager has been relieved of his duties
• Also read: Vigil in honor of Nicous D’Andre Spring
• Also read: Died in prison, Nicous D’Andre Spring was unlawfully imprisoned
The young man was unlawfully held in Bordeaux prison.
A correctional officer at the prison has agreed to speak with our reporter, Kevin Crane Desmarais, and testifies to the tense atmosphere that prevails within the walls of the prison.
“He was supposed to be released but there was no one there to do the paperwork,” a correctional officer said on condition of anonymity. “It happens occasionally.”
Nicous was due to be released on December 23.
On December 24, still behind bars, an altercation reportedly forced authorities to put a spit mask on him before spraying him with cayenne pepper.
“The detainee was restless and arrogant in his area, and the other inmates would have come to the agents to request that person be moved,” the agent explains.
Recall that a correctional officer has been suspended and a manager relieved of his duties for alleged failure to follow procedures.
“There have been some irregularities and that’s why it needs to be sorted out,” said the agent Kevin Crane Desmarais spoke to.
According to the prison officers TVA Nouvelles spoke to, some of the interventions were recorded by surveillance cameras inside the prison walls, and the same video is already circulating on the internet.
“It’s always complex given the culture behind the walls,” explains André Durocher, a former SPVM investigator.
“First, on the one hand, there will be union solidarity,” he said. You have union members who can be suspects but also witnesses on the other side. Then, at the witness level, you have the detainees, it’s certain they won’t line up to speak to the police.
“The investigators will therefore have to rely on solid evidence,” explains Mr. Durocher. “There will be surveillance cameras, medical certificates from the autopsy report.”
Several friends and family members of Nicous D’Andre Spring gathered on Friday night to pay their respects to the young man. The evening had been organized by his relatives at Benny Park in the Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce district to call for justice.