Video showing Montreal police officer kneeling on Black youth's neck sparks calls for investigation
A video, showing a Montreal police (SPVM) officer kneeling on a young Black man's neck, has sparked outrage and calls for an investigation by politicians.
It happened on June 10, when Montreal police say they received a 911 call about a fight at Georges-Vanier High School, in the Villeray neighbourhood.
The fight, according to police, involved about 15 young people from different schools; two minors were arrested for obstructing the work of a peace officer and carrying weapons: a bottle of bear repellent and a taser.
A video was posted to social media after the incident, showing a police officer pushing his left knee down onto the young man's neck and face.
The teen, lying unmoving on the ground, is then handcuffed by the officers. They search his bag and take out what looks like a taser. Police confirmed that the young man was in possession of the prohibited weapon.
Frantz Benjamin, Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) member for Viau says he was shocked to see excerpts of the video.
"An aggressive arrest of two young Black men not far from Rousselot Street in Montreal," he said.
Benjamin states he has already written to the director general of the Montreal police to request that an investigation be launched. According to Montreal police, an "analysis" of the situation is underway.
In an e-mail to CTV News, Montreal police said that, “although the neck control technique is not involved in this situation, it should be noted that it is part of the National Use of Force Model” that is taught at Quebec’s policing school, the École nationale de police du Québec (ÉNPQ).
“Applied in a specific context and under specific circumstances, it allows for the control of a suspect with a greatly reduced risk of injury, compared to the use of some intermediate weapons,” the e-mail stated.
Benjamin said he was pleased the situation would be analyzed.
"It is a question of transparency and security to allow us to have confidence in the police," he said. "I am pleased to see that several elected municipal officials, such as Abdelhaq Sari and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, share my request."
When asked by La Presse if she had seen the images, Plante called the incident "worrying."
"The analysis underway should shed light on the entire intervention," she told La Presse, adding Montrealers "must be able to live safely in their neighbourhoods."
Plante's administration took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of implementing the use of body cameras on all officers.
It also noted that it has invested more than $2 million to support community organizations "that do essential work in the prevention of violence among young people."
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION CALLED POLICE
Montreal police said it had been called to George Vanier High School, because it “has been struggling with a problem of crowds, conflicts and fights, involving students from different schools.”
Officers were called to the school earlier last week to “be present and visible,” and on the day of the incident, had visited the school for the second time that week.
“The school administration contacted 9-1-1 to request police intervention because a fight was in progress involving about 15 individuals. Once on the scene, the police officers intervened with several individuals, notably to put an end to a crowd,” Montreal police public relations said in an e-mail to CTV News Montreal.
Police say the two minors were released on summons and their cases will be carried out in youth court.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
This isn't the first time that Montreal police has been accused of using excessive force in an arrest.
In April, there were renewed calls for patrollers to wear bodycams after a video surfaced showing a Montreal police officer punching a man in the head while his colleagues held him down.
The altercation took place at Jeanne Mance Park, in the Plateau Mont-Royal borough, after officers approached the man because he was allegedly drinking alcohol.
"They asked him to stop...he continued," said spokesperson David Shane. "When they went to intervene with him, he adopted a combat position."
In 2018, a video caught Montreal police officers slamming a woman against the trunk of cruiser and striking her in the back of the head.
At the time, the officers claimed she was acting aggressively under the influence of drugs.
Also that year, Montreal police were accused of using excessive force in the arrest of a Haitian man, resulting in his death.
A video, taken by a neighbour in the apartment building, shows officers using several projectiles and a taser to restrain him.
He was later declared dead at the hospital.
- With files from CTV News Montreal's Gabrielle Fahmy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.