Three of five Quebec City police officers reinstated following violent arrests
Three out of five Quebec City police (SPVQ) officers have been allowed back to work after a series of controversial arrest videos sparked investigations and public outrage in late 2021.
The three officers were brought back on the job on Dec. 20, about two weeks after Quebec's police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), announced it would open an investigation into possible criminal behaviour of one officer.
It's unclear whether that officer was one of the three reinstated. The SPVQ refused to specify, citing ongoing investigations.
"The disciplinary investigation is still ongoing to determine whether one or more instances of professional misconduct has been committed," read a statement from SPVQ spokesperson David Pelletier, who noted relevant investigations need to be completed before the force can apply, "if necessary, disciplinary sanctions."
"Regarding the two police officers still suspended, the assessment of their status is still being analyzed," wrote Pelletier.
'TROUBLING,' 'DISGUSTING' VIDEOS
Several videos showing violent arrests drew public outrage after surfacing online late last year.
The first, which is said to have been captured during the night of Nov. 26, allegedly showed a Quebec City officer shoving snow into the face of a Black teenager during an arrest.
Shortly after the video surfaced online, the SPVQ announced it would undertake an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
As the force prepared to dig in to the event, sentiments of outrage were shared widely online.
The boy involved was a minor and a protégé of professional boxer Martel-Bahoéli, who described one officer's behaviour as "disgusting."
Quebec politicians also voiced concerns after the video surfaced, with Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade calling the video "extremely troubling."
In the days that followed, three more videos were released.
A second video appeared to show officers allegedly punching and jamming their knees into a white man’s back at a restaurant while he was face-down in broken glass.
In a third video, surfaced by La Presse, an officer could be heard saying, “Do you want me to tear gas you?” while swearing at him just before he appeared to forcefully shove him into a police cruiser.
Quebec City's police chief confirmed shortly after that a single officer appeared in all three videos.
A fourth video was first reported by Le Journal. It reportedly showed officers from the same squad involved in the first three videos, the GRIPP squad, which is tasked with patrolling restaurants and bars.
In the days that followed, the force declared there were reasonable grounds to believe an officer had committed a crime in two previous incidents.
The case was deferred to the BEI on the request of Quebec's public safety ministry.
-- This is a developing story. More to come. Published with files from CTV News' Joe Lofaro and Selena Ross.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.