A resident of Ahuntsic-Cartierville is suffering from severe paralysis following a police bust outside a school in that northern Montreal area in late September, La Presse has learned.
Published at 2:55 am. Updated at 5:00 am.
The two Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) officers involved in the intervention were assigned administrative duties while the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) shed light on the situation.
According to reports, on September 26, the woman in question was arrested and physically restrained outside a school where her child was while leaving class. A court order banned contact between the mother and the minor, prompting the school to call the police.
“The individual became agitated and aggressive toward one of the police officers. “The agents then arrested the person and brought him to the ground in order to handcuff him behind his back,” describes the BEI in a press release published at the end of September, without causing a stir.
After the arrest, which took place shortly after 3:30 p.m., the woman “stated that she had pain in her neck,” according to the BEI.
When the police tried to release her a few minutes later, “she mentioned that she couldn’t go outside and that she had pain in her neck and tingling in her limbs.”
Left on the ground
Ultimately, it was the police themselves who took the woman out of the patrol car and then laid her on her back on the ground in front of her house. The police then left the scene.
“The individual would have remained lying on the sidewalk near his residence,” the BEI continued. At approximately 4:49 p.m., citizens called 911 and summoned an ambulance because the person reported he could no longer feel his limbs. » She would have spent about fifteen minutes on the ground.
Stéphane Smith, spokesman for Urgences-santé, limited himself to confirming that paramedics had indeed intervened to help a woman lying on the ground late in the afternoon that day.
According to our information, the affected woman is still suffering from severe paralysis almost a month after the events. La Presse has not been able to determine with certainty the nature of the problem it faces. The BEI must also provide information about the causal connection between the arrest and the health problem.
What is certain is that, according to the BEI, she was “operated on because of her serious injuries” in a hospital.
“Confidential” event, says school service center
All those involved declined to comment on the situation.
The BEI notably refused to specify the nature of the “serious injuries” suffered by the woman in this case. A few days later, the organization also refused to reveal the location where it had stationed its command post to collect clues.
According to a source, BEI investigators are analyzing in particular the compliance of police officers with the article of the Criminal Code, which compels any peace officer to come to the aid of a person in distress who is in custody.
“Neither the school management nor the CSSDM will comment on this issue,” said Alain Perron, spokesman for the Montreal School Service Center (CSSDM), when La Presse asked whether psychological support would be offered to the affected staff. “We invite you to respect the confidential aspect of this event with parents and school staff. » Mr. Perron did not want to specify to what extent this event was “confidential.”
Outside the school where the arrest took place, staff referred La Presse to the local principal, who would not answer our questions. Several residents in the immediate area said they had been visited by BEI investigators in late September or early October, but none had witnessed the physical procedure themselves.
“As there is an investigation by the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI), you must direct your inquiry to them,” the SPVM stated, refusing to specify whether its men were actually entrusted with administrative duties.
The Brotherhood of Police Officers of Montreal (FPPM) declined to comment on the matter.
Calling everyone
Did you witness this event or do you have any details about it?