A man who was shot at by a special constable outside the Montreal courthouse may have been treated at Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital Monday night, but left before police arrived.
Police were not informed that a man with gunshot injuries to his hand was admitted.
Since 2008, hospitals have been instructed to contact police when patients are admitted with gunshot wounds. Though police hadn't sent out an advisory, Montreal police Const. Yannick Paradis said it was unusual the hospital didn't make a call.
"Usually we have great cooperation from the hospital. They do make calls to advise us that somebody has (brought) himself to the hospital with gunshots wound," he said.
The hospital said it did not inform police due to doctor-patient confidentiality.
"All medical care is given confidentially," said hospital spokesperson Francois Brochu.
Though they try to follow the 2008 law, Brochu said, "it takes a certain amount of time to develop the appropriate protocols."
Courthouse altercation
Evens Aaron Ambroise, 27, has been on the lam since he allegedly fled the scene of an altercation outside the Montreal courthouse Monday morning.
Witnesses say a man was involved in a scuffle with a woman inside the Palais de Justice on St. Laurent Blvd and Notre Dame St. when a special constable removed him from the premises at 11 a.m.
The fight continued outside the court, where a man fitting Ambroise's description tried unsuccessfully to force the woman into his car.
The special constable fired his weapon at the Chevrolet Cavalier, shattering the driver's side window and hitting the suspect in the arm, as he fled on St. Laurent.
The suspect then ran over the constable, who received minor injuries, said Montreal police Const. Yannick Paradis.
The vehicle was retrieved on University St. and Notre Dame, but the suspect fled on foot.
Description
Ambroise is 5 feet 7 and 175 lbs. He is a black man with black hair and black eyes. He has two scars: one on his right arm and one on his left elbow. He has a tattoo of an angel on his left shoulder. He likely has bandages on his left hand.
Ambroise is well known to police and has been charged with drug possession and assault.
He was due to appear in court in connection with a conjugal assault hearing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Info-Crime at 514-393-1133
A first at the courthouse
This is the first shooting of this nature at the Montreal courthouse, said Giovanni Diamente, an employee at the Palais de Justice.
Special constables have been carrying weapons at the courthouse for about 20 years, said Diamente.
