In report on police killing, Quebec coroner says officers need 'less-lethal' weapons
A coroner's report into the death of a Black man shot and killed by police in a city northeast of Montreal says officers showed restraint during the intervention.
Jean René Junior Olivier, 37, was killed by police on Aug. 1, 2021, in Repentigny, Que., as he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Earlier this year, lawyers for the deceased man's mother, Marie-Mireille Bence, said they felt race may have played a role in his death, as they announced a lawsuit against the city and the local police for $430,000.
But coroner Karine Spénard pushed back against that claim in an eight-page report released Tuesday, saying officers did not provoke Olivier's actions.
"Relatives of Mr. Olivier said they were convinced that the police had gone to him with the intention of killing him," Spénard said.
"With respect, I do not subscribe to this opinion, particularly because the police attempted a de-escalation while remaining at a distance."
The coroner found that officers tried to de-escalate the situation for nearly 14 minutes before opening fire when Olivier ran toward them with a steak knife. They did not know he was holding a steak knife until after they shot him.
Spénard's report said she studied video of the encounter and listened to audio with 911 operators. As well, she said she consulted with an expert on police use of force.
The Repentigny police force has faced several racial profiling and human rights complaints over the years. In response, the force commissioned a report on its officers' interactions with Black residents, and introduced an action plan to deal with the matter.
But Spénard said she didn't believe race was a factor in this case.
"I would like to emphasize that at no time did I hear any words, comments or remarks on the colour of Mr. Olivier's skin," Spénard said. "This element therefore does not appear to me to be contributory to the death."
Spénard's only recommendation was for the municipal force to acquire and train officers in the use of what are known as intermediate weapons, such as rubber bullets. She said those types of weapon — also known as less-lethal weapons — can be fired from a greater distance: up to 50 metres.
While there was a stun gun and pepper spray on site, officers were too far away from Olivier to use them, she said.
"Given the increasing number of police interventions with mentally disturbed people whose behaviour represents a threat, the use of (intermediary weapons) seems entirely appropriate in such contexts," Spénard wrote.
Bence has said she expected her son to be taken to a psychiatric hospital when she called 911 to report that he was experiencing psychological distress and was carrying a knife. Six police officers arrived, along with an ambulance.
In February, Quebec's Crown prosecutor's office decided there were no grounds to lay criminal charges against any of the officers connected with the fatal shooting. Shortly thereafter, the family filed the lawsuit.
On Tuesday, the city said in a statement it had received a copy of the coroner's report and was considering its recommendation.
"We are aware that each stage of this file is an ordeal for the family, loved ones, the police and our community and we are very sensitive to this," the city said in an unsigned statement.
"In respect of the people involved and the legal process still in progress, the city and its police department will not issue any additional comments upon the filing of said report."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Israel sends tanks into Rafah on raids amid Gaza-wide offensive
Israeli tanks mounted raids across Rafah in defiance of the World Court for a second day on Wednesday, after Washington said the assault did not amount to a major ground operation in the southern Gazan city that U.S. officials have warned Israel to avoid.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Five more Ontario school boards join lawsuit against social media platforms
Five additional Ontario school boards and two independent private schools have joined a lawsuit against the owners of multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
In bizarre provocation, North Korea flies trash, manure balloons over the South
North Korea flew hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea in one of its most bizarre provocations against its rival in years, prompting the South’s military to mobilize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects and debris in different parts of the country.
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.