Montreal man believes rough arrest caught on video was racially motivated

MONTREAL — A Montreal man says he’s been left traumatized following an arrest by police north of the city in which he was allegedly struck and dragged from a car by his hair.

A two-part video of the incident published online appears to show a Laval police officer standing outside a car asking a male black passenger several times to get out of the vehicle, as the man asks why he’s under investigation.

Moments later, the officer can be seen reaching into the vehicle and dragging the man out onto the sidewalk by his dreadlocks.

The second video appears to show one police officer striking the man as he and his partner kneel over him on the sidewalk, ordering him to stop resisting.

The man, who does not want to give his last name because he’s fearful of police, says he was released with a ticket for not obeying social distancing rules, and his lawyers say they expect to take legal action against the Laval police.

A police spokeswoman says the video does not show the reasons for the police stop but says the force can no longer comment because complaints over the incident have been filed to the police ethics board.

Sgt. Genevieve Major says the force has recommended that the man face charges of breaking probation, obstruction and assaulting a police officer, but it is up to the Crown prosecutor’s office to decide if charges are filed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2020

The Canadian Press