Driving while Black: Court rules lawyer was racially profiled by police
A Quebec judge has ruled a Black man was racially profiled by Montreal police (SPVM) officers during a downtown traffic stop.
On Jan. 28, 2021, at 6 p.m., lawyer Kwadwo Yeboah and his 15-year-old daughter were driving on René-Lévesque Boulevard in a white Mercedes registered to his wife's company.
He was stopped at an intersection when two officers spotted him and decided to follow him for a few blocks before turning on their flashing lights, pulling him over and asking for his papers.
According to court documents, the officers said they thought the licence might be fake but their patrol car wasn't equipped with a computer to do the necessary checks.
They called in for back-up and two more patrol cars arrived.
The judgement notes the officers asked Yeboah questions about where he was going and who the car belonged to -- questions the judge said were "not relevant."
Despite the fact that Yeboah's licence was valid, he was swiftly arrested for providing a false licence, handcuffed and put in the back of one of the patrol cars.
The officers also claimed they thought he was using a cellphone while driving and he was charged with contravening section 443.1 of the Quebec Highway Safety Code.
The judge concluded that the officers' behaviour during the intervention showed clear indications that Yeboah was being racially profiled.
In addition, the judgement shows that one of the officers was wearing a body camera that recorded the incident.
Though she shared the footage with colleagues via WhatsApp, that video, along with surveillance footage from a nearby hotel, was never recorded into evidence.
"The withholding of body camera footage is a serious denial of justice and an indicator of conscious racial profiling," the judgement concluded. "The withholding of surveillance footage from the hotel is a serious denial of justice and an indicator of conscious racial profiling."
CTV News reached out to Montreal police for comment, and the force acknowledged the court's decision.
"As in any other court case, there is a 30-day time limit to appeal a decision," the force stated. "We will take the time to analyze it and let the legal process take its course. We will not make any further comments at this time."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6950941.1720092571!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Hurricane Beryl roars toward Mexico after leaving destruction in Jamaica and eastern Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95 per cent of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling toward the Cayman Islands and taking aim at Mexico's Caribbean coast after leaving at least seven dead in its wake.
Son asks court to sell B.C. home he co-owns with his mother, despite her objections
A B.C. judge has ordered the sale of a Surrey home despite the objections of the woman who lives there, who owns it jointly with her son.
Ottawa landlord left with hefty bill after tenant trashes rental property
A landlord in Ottawa is facing thousands of dollars in repairs after his tenant left his only rental property damaged and disorderly.
If you qualify for this tax credit, you can expect a payment in your bank account this week
The next quarterly GST/HST tax credit payment is expected to go out this week, according to the Canada Revenue Agency.
Woman dead, four in hospital after hit-and-run on Toronto's Gardiner Expressway
A woman has died and four others have been taken to hospital following a hit-and-run collision overnight on the Gardiner Expressway.
We are in for a stronger, longer and earlier hurricane season. Here's why
With warmer-than-usual temperatures on the horizon this summer, a stronger and longer Atlantic storm season is ahead. A hurricane expert explains why that is and what to expect in the months ahead.
Will Justin Trudeau step down, or stay on? Survey shows what Canadians think
A majority of Canadians think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will stay on to lead his party in the next election even as his approval ratings are still extremely low, a new poll suggests.
No Frills grocery stores drop 'multi-buy' offer
As receipts tick ever higher for Canadians at the grocery store and shoppers continue to search for savings, one Canadian grocer has ended a perceived deal.
Cape Breton police investigating gold-for-gas scam that targets unsuspecting drivers
Police in Cape Breton are investigating reports of a scam involving a seemingly stranded motorist flagging down drivers and offering gold jewelry in exchange for money to pay for gas or repairs.