Mayor of small Quebec town speaks out after brick thrown through windshield while inside his car

Driving through his small Quebec town of 800 people on Saturday morning, mayor Alain Talbot had just reached for his phone to film an angry resident approaching his car when a brick hit his windshield.

It smashed the glass, falling down on the top of the dashboard and left the mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy — located about 100 kilometres east of Quebec City — in shock.

"It happened so fast," said Talbot, who was first elected in 2017.

"I never thought it would happen like that."

Quebec's Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) confirmed an arrest warrant was issued Monday for Nicolas David for mischief and assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm.

Talbot says the man who attacked him has a history with the municipality dating back seven years.

While Talbot didn't sustain any injuries, he says there can't be any space for violence against elected officials.

"We try to do our best, we understand the verbal attacks.… But it is necessary nevertheless to remain respectful," said Talbot.

If the uptick in harassment against elected officials continues, he says "it's going to be hard to get people in these seats."

Talbot says he does not have plans to step down.

While this isn't the first time he has faced harassment, he says this particular incident has already started to affect some residents who are now "afraid to walk on the sidewalk."

"I wanted to help the citizens and then help the municipality," said Talbot. "We don't seek out positions to be treated like this."

The attack comes as a growing number of municipal officials across the province are quitting politics. 

In May, Évelyne Beaudin said she will not seek a second term as the mayor of Sherbrooke, partly due to "division, dissatisfaction, aggression."