Montreal correctional officer suspended after man, 21, dies from injuries in jail
A correctional officer has been temporarily relieved of his duties after a detainee died following an altercation inside a Montreal jail on Christmas Eve.
The Ministry of Public Safety confirmed in an email to CTV News that the man, 21-year-old Nicous D'Andre Spring, lost consciousness after an officer performed a "physical procedure" on him inside the jail.
He was sent to hospital in an ambulance after the Dec. 24 altercation, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The ministry's corrections branch suspended the jail worker following a preliminary analysis of what happened. An administrative investigation is now underway.
The ministry said it would not make any further comments on the incident "considering the ongoing or upcoming investigations as well as the rules regarding the confidentiality of personal files."
Quebec's public safety minister, François Bonnardel, said he was "very concerned" about the man's death and has asked for officials to shed light on what happened.
"We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loves ones of the victim," the minister said in a statement.
Quebec provincial police are also investigating the young man's death.
"It is up to the police to determine whether charges should be laid following a criminal investigation and to the coroner to determine the cause of death," said Marie-Josée Montminy, a spokesperson for the public safety ministry.
SPRING WAS ASPIRING RAPPER FROM MONTREAL
In an interview with Noovo Info, the head of the union representing Quebec corrections officers, Mathieu Lavoie, said agents put a "spit mask" on Spring during the intervention to stop him from biting them.
A supervisor then ordered agents to spray Spring with pepper spray, while he was still wearing the mask.
"There needs to be an internal review and lessons need to be learned," said Lavoie.
Spring was an aspiring rapper from Montreal going by the name YK Lyrical.
He was in Bordeaux following a Dec. 20 arrest in which he pled not guilty to assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, and possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes charges.
He was arrested on three previous occasions.
Bordeaux jail is located on Gouin Boulevard in Montreal's Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough.
An autopsy will be done to determine the causes and circumstances surrounding the death, according to Stephane Tremblay, a spokesperson for the SQ.
The investigation is being conducted by the SQ's Crimes Against the Person team.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows person break into Old Montreal building before fatal fire that killed mother, daughter
The two people who died in a major fire in Old Montreal on Friday were a mother and her seven-year-old daughter, sources told Noovo Info.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Northwestern Ont. woman charged with arson with disregard for human life
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
OPP charge driver going 175 km/h on Highway 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police have laid stunt charges against a driver caught speeding 75 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end.
Looking for cheap flights for the holidays? Here are some tips to remember
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
The Menendez brothers case is not the only one that's been affected by a true crime documentary
Being an armchair detective has turned into an American obsession, fueled by an abundance of true-crime content in podcasts and television series. But some of those projects have sparked actual legal developments.