Report says STM inspectors' use of force in violent arrest was justified
CBC
An external review of a violent arrest in a Montreal Metro station has concluded inspectors with the city's transit authority were justified in their use of force.
The April 17 arrest in the Jean-Talon station was captured on video and widely shared on social media.
The video does not show what led up to the event, but starts with Société de transport de Montréal (STM) inspectors struggling with a woman. One inspector sits on her legs, while the other appears to deliver multiple punches to her head with a closed fist.
The STM had launched an internal investigation into the incident, and found the use of force followed the rules and procedures taught at the École nationale de police du Québec.
The STM then hired Marco Gaggino, a lawyer specializing in police ethics, to review those findings.
Gaggino filed his report Tuesday, concluding the inspectors acted within the rules and the use of force was justified.
"The scene captured by a citizen's cell phone in which we see a person held down being hit by two uniformed STM inspectors is disturbing," the report states.
Gaggino reviewed footage captured by the security cameras and he listened to recordings of radio transmissions.
The report says inspectors spent 17 minutes with the woman, trying to establish her identity in order to issue a statement of offence.
It is when the woman tries to flee that the incident becomes violent, as inspectors work to stop and handcuff her, the report says.
On audio tapes, the report notes, officers repeatedly tell her to put her hands behind her back and stop resisting. She did not comply, the report states.
The woman injured one of the officers by biting him, the report says. He had to be treated in hospital for injuries to his arm and leg.
After a complete analysis of the event, Gaggino concludes that the two STM inspectors were gradual in their approach, in accordance with the rules.
When the force was applied, it was justified, the report states.
A suspended Moncton structural engineer faces more lawsuits alleging design flaws in buildings that require repair.
Sajjade Tugano has come a long way since he first set foot in Chibougamau, six hours north of Quebec City, in the depths of winter in November 2021.
A national mentor-based hockey organization that helps marginalized youth through the sport is paying tribute to one of its members and youngest coaches.
After months of asking the City of Saskatoon to do more to solve its homelessness crisis, advocate David Fineday took to the stand at city council Tuesday.
A community organization wants to breathe new life into a historic building in Regina.
Some Prince County residents are walking away with more answers after attending Tuesday night's public information session in Albany, P.E.I., on the Wejipek Wind Project.
After just a few months of using vape detectors in a couple of bathrooms, a B.C. high school principal says it's reduced vape use in those areas to basically zero.
Burlington MP Karina Gould gets boost from local young people after entering Liberal leadership race
A day after entering the Liberal leadership race, Burlington, Ont., MP and government House leader Karina Gould was cheered at a campaign launch party by local residents — including young people expressing hope the 37-year-old politician will represent their voices.
Anold Mulaisho was born intersex and wonders where they fit in, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order for the United States to recognize only two sexes, male and female.
WARNING: This story contains references to suicide.
Subway service is down on Line 1 between Sheppard West and Lawrence West due to a broken power rail, the TTC said Wednesday morning.
A long-term care home in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood has cleared one more hurdle to add desperately needed beds to its property, a move that's been praised by housing advocates but opposed by locals concerned about the impact on the neighbourhood.
A Charlottetown resident is calling on the P.E.I. government to do more to protect homeowners after reading about a recent oil spill very similar to one on his Montague property 20 years ago, which he says ruined him financially.
WARNING: This story includes details of abuse.
Two years after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly declared she was taking the unprecedented step of moving to confiscate millions of dollars from a sanctioned Russian oligarch with assets in Canada, the government has not actually begun the court process to forfeit the money, let alone to hand it over to Ukrainian reconstruction — and it may never happen.
Alberta business and oilpatch leaders are returning home from Washington this week after the U.S. presidential inauguration festivities — and gritting their teeth after a roller-coaster of emotions.
Youth workers in Toronto's Jane and Finch area are flipping the script on negative stereotypes about their communities with a new fundraising campaign that offers anti-bias training in exchange for donations to bolster their programming.
In a sudden move that came late Tuesday evening, city officials rolled out cots and temporarily opened a warm building in east London as frigid temperatures continued.