MONTREAL– A Montreal police officer shot a man in the neck as he tried to flee in a pickup truck in the Old Port of Montreal early Saturday morning
Police were called around 2 a.m. to intervene following an incident on a cruise ship near the Alexandra Pier, where a party was taking place.
Shortly after, an officer tried to stop the pickup truck leaving from the dock, because the driver was squealing his tires in front of pedestrians at de la Commune and de Calliere Sts.
Rather than stop, the 24-year-old driver from Varennes accelerated – as the officer was standing on the running board on the passenger side of the truck. The officer then fired at least once, shooting him in the neck.
"We don’t fear for his life at this time," said Surete du Quebec spokesperson Daniel Thibaudeau, addin that he was seriously injured.
The officer was treated for shock.
At the moment, it remains unclear why the man tried to flee from police.
It is too soon to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role and if the man was on board the cruise ship, said Thibaudeau.
The Surete du Quebec, which has taken over the investigation because it involves the Montreal police force, is seeking witnesses to assist in their investigation.
"There were many witnesses in the area who may have seen something and they can come forth if they wish to do so," he said. "Our command centre is on de la Commune, or they can call our information line at 1-800-659-4264... Hundreds of people were here last night. Someone saw something."

 

Around 2:30 in the morning, officers from the M p f where called from the Alexandra dock

 

During the intervention

 

One of the officers had noticed that the pickup truck was exiting the road

 

Had spun its weels out as passenger

 

During this intervention, one or more shots were fired, hitting the driver, and the driver of the pickup, a 24-year-old man is presently being treated in hospital for some serious injuries. We don’t fear for his life at this time.

 

The number of shots still has to be determined by our investigators

There were many witnesses in the area who may have seen something and they can come forth if they wish to do so.

Command centre is on de la Commune, oer they can call our information line at 1-800-659=-4264.

Too soon to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role and if the man was on board the cruise ship.

Varennes man

“was he on board the cruise ship?

The officer who intervened, was he stuck on part of the pickup turck? That remains to be seen.

Hundred of people were here last night. Someone saw something

 

With files from La Presse Canadienne