This article written in french by Nicholas Pereira was automatically translated using ChatGPT.

A 31-year-old Torontonian is denouncing an incident of police brutality and racial profiling that occurred during his stay in Laval on the night of September 1.

Gulaid Mahdi Omar and his friends had just exited a rented vehicle when they were reportedly intercepted by police. The officers allegedly instructed them to return to the vehicle.

A video posted on social media shows the aftermath of the intervention, during which police attempted to subdue Mr. Omar on the ground. The Red Coalition, which fights against racial profiling and systemic racism, notes that one officer allegedly placed a knee on his neck, but this cannot be confirmed with the available footage. Several blows were reportedly struck, and the Black man can be heard saying he “can’t breathe.”

(Video courtesy: The Red Coalition)

His friends, who were in the vehicle at the time, also told the police that he couldn’t breathe. “If he can talk, he can breathe,” responded the Laval Police Service officer.

“The footage from this video is deeply troubling and reminiscent of the assault and death of George Floyd [in the United States] in 2019,” commented Joel DeBellefeuille, executive director and founder of The Red Coalition, in a statement. “This is the most shocking and disturbing case of racial profiling I have ever seen. Mr. Mahdi was clearly compliant, yet the officers continued to use excessive force.”

According to the group, the police also sprayed the victim with pepper spray and used a Taser. The Torontonian had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance, incurring a $350 fee. He was diagnosed with a concussion, in addition to having several visible bruises.

“Why would I not listen to armed men enforcing the law? Do I want to die at 30 for nothing? I complied all the way, as you can see in the video! I have nothing to hide,” wrote Gulaid Mahdi Omar on his X account.

Laval Police Version

The Service de police de Laval (SPL) states that the intervention began when a pair of officers noticed a running vehicle with three occupants near a licensed establishment in Pont-Viau.

Due to the late hour and the vehicle’s location, the officers intercepted it to check the driver’s capabilities.

“The intercepted individual refused to cooperate with the police and resisted, forcing them to use a continuum of force,” states the SPL. “He was arrested and released on summons. Criminal charges may be filed by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.”

He was also issued traffic tickets under the Highway Safety Code.

According to The Red Coalition, he received two fines of $176 each. The first was for his inability to present a valid driver’s license, while the second was for not having proof of car insurance. The organization insists that he was not the driver of the vehicle at that time.

The police department claims it has reviewed the videos related to this intervention. “After analysis, the intervention was conducted according to protocols,” states Courrier Laval. “The involved officers are not suspended.”

The SPL also assures that no form of discrimination is tolerated within its organization. “Integrity, respect, and diversity are at the core of our police service’s values and guide our daily actions and commitment to the Laval community.”

Legal Action

Gulaid Mahdi Omar has tasked The Red Coalition with holding the involved officers accountable and pursuing legal action to the fullest extent permitted by law. The organization “is preparing to immediately file a complaint for police ethics violations and is working closely with its partners to ensure justice is served.”

It is worth noting that the Commissioner of Police Ethics and the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights are among the independent bodies that allow any citizen to file a complaint regarding a police intervention.

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It was around 3:45 a.m. when 911 was notified of the incident by a fire alarm available to the establishment located on Curé-Labelle Boulevard, in Chomedey.

The first of the 4 Laval Fire Department units required for the intervention, i.e., 14 firefighters, arrived on site at 3:54 AM.

At this time, the sappers easily saw smoke coming from inside the restaurant whose sprinkler system had been activated.

Suspicious details

A window was found to have been smashed with what appears to be a Molotov cocktail.

After ensuring that no one was inside, when the business was effectively unoccupied, the firefighters quickly brought the fire under control, giving control at the stroke of 3:56 AM; certainly, helped by the efficiency of the sprinklers.

The action of the latter will have limited the material damage to $10,000 for the commercial building and $3,000 for its contents.

Investigation

Due to the suspicious items found at the scene, firefighters immediately transferred the investigation to the Service de police de Laval (SPL).

A crime scene was still in progress on the morning of Thursday, March 9, pending SPL investigators and forensic identification specialists.

Not a first Recall that the Nuits de Beyrouth restaurant had already been visited by a criminal hand on November 7 and 8, 2022; other incidents of a similar nature had also occurred in the past at this location.

It should also be noted that last October, the SPL made public the arrest of five individuals accused notably of arson, most of them caused on Curé-Labelle Boulevard, and intimidation of Laval’s restaurateurs.

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He was ordered by the Court of Quebec to pay a fine of $499,385. His driver’s license was also suspended for three months.

The 42-year-old man pleaded guilty to the charge against him on November 17^th  at the Laval courthouse.

Waseem Shahzad was accused of possession of tobacco intended for sale, the packet of which was not identified per Article 13.1 of the Tobacco Tax Law.

This conviction stems from an investigation by the Service de poilice de Laval (SPL) which began in January 2021 and targeted Waseem Shahzad and a business he did not own.

On March 31^st, 2021, the police carried out searches in a residence and an outbuilding, in a business, as well as in two vehicles used for the storage and transportation of tobacco.

837,895 kg of shisha was seized as part of the investigation.

In addition, a vehicle was confiscated, as well as $57,705 in cash.

Revenu Québec reminds people who engage in commercial activities related to tobacco products that they must hold the permits required by law.

In addition, all tobacco intended for retail sale in Québec must be identified in the manner and under the conditions prescribed by regulation.

Failure to comply with any of these obligations constitutes an offence and may result in a minimum fine of $6,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 2 years. People who buy contraband tobacco for their own consumption are exposed to a minimum fine of $350. (EB/IJL)

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It was 4:54 a.m. when 911 was notified of a fire in that residential area, located almost at the western end of Saint-Martin Boulevard, on the Sainte-Dorothée’s side.

Arriving at 4:57 a.m., the first of the nine units of Laval’s Fire and Safety Department required for the intervention (34 firefighters), had no trouble figuring out the magnitude of the situation.

At that time, flames were visible on the first two of the four floors of the building, in addition to reaching the rest of the structure and igniting some of the balconies.

Maneuvers in extreme cold

While the wind factor forced work to be done in a temperature of around minus 20 degrees, firefighters first completed the evacuation of the premises.

Meanwhile, help was requested from the Service de police de Laval (SPL), Hydro-Québec, the Société de transport de Laval (STL), and the City of Laval’s public works department.

The firefighters mainly concentrated their efforts on stopping the spread of the flames to the other floors and to the roof of the building, valued at $6 million, noting that the smoke detectors of the place were functional.

It was around 6:24 a.m. that firefighters brought the fire under control, but it caused damage summarily assessed at $300,000 for the building, and $100,000 for its contents.

Eight people will have to relocate following the fire. The investigation was transferred to the SPL, the firefighters having been unable to determine its origin 100 per cent.

However, the fire would have most likely started on the first floor.

Due to freezing weather conditions, a firefighter injured his ankle while executing his duties.

translated by Alec Brideau

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The victim was crossing the boulevard to get to that terminus of the same name before being hit by a vehicle travelling east. At that time, she was transported to a hospital within minutes of the incident, and the SPL said they “feared for her life”.

The driver, in her 40s, was treated for a nervous shock.

That incident occurred less than two hours, after another collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian happened in Auteuil. The victim was travelling from east to west, at 7656 des Laurentides Boulevard, which is located between Riopelle and Rémillard streets.

“Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers were attempted when help arrived, but the death of the victim was confirmed on the spot,” confirmed the Service de police de Laval (SPL) spokesperson, Stéphanie Beshara, following the incident. “The victim was a 61-year-old man.”

For both cases, the SPL favoured the thesis of accidental events. (N.P.)

translated by Alec Brideau

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The victim was initially going there as part of an exchange of goods.

The person was hit in the lower body, and taken to a hospital. The SPL confirmed there’s no fear for the life of the victim despite serious.

The police received a first call in connection with the conflict at 6:40 p.m. because of the gunshots heard. Once there, the SPL arrested a 34-year-old suspect, who was still being held on the morning of Dec. 6.

The SPL is still looking for another suspect linked with the events.

Trading Place

A neutral meeting area was inaugurated in November 2021, at the SPL Headquarters, which is located at 2911, Chomedey Boulevard.

Available at all times and filmed 24 hours a day, the meeting area allows citizens to trade goods safely.

At the time of that zone’s inauguration, the SPL was already considering the creation of at least two other exchange areas on the territory, in particular in Chomedey and Pont-Viau.

translated by Alec Brideau

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The first pedestrian was travelling from east to west, at 7656, des Laurentides Boulevard, which is located between Riopelle and Rémillard streets, in Auteuil. The driver was heading south when the collision occurred.

“Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers were attempted when help arrived, but the death of the victim was confirmed on the spot,” confirmed the Service de police de Laval (SPL) spokesperson, Stéphanie Beshara. “The victim was a 61-year-old man.”

Critical Condition

The second incident took place on Cartier Boulevard.

A 37-year-old woman was crossing Cartier Boulevard to get to that terminus of the same name. However, she was hit by a vehicle travelling east.

The SPL said the victim’s in serious condition, and that we fear for her life. The driver, in her 40s, was treated for a nervous shock.

For both cases, the SPL favours the thesis of accidental events.

translated by Alec Brideau

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The latter is currently detained, following a first charge relating to crimes of sexual nature, but the investigation has established he also allegedly assaulted a second victim.

Investigators have reason to believe Cauvier may have made other victims, with different attack strategies.

The Facts

Initially arrested on Oct. 10 for attempted kidnapping, the suspect is now accused, in two different cases, for the following offences: kidnapping, sequestration, sexual assault, assault with a weapon, death threats and attempting to administer narcotics to its victims.

He allegedly approached them in outdoor parking lots to attempt to drug them, abduct them and physically assault them.

Although his action plan is similar (for each victim), investigators aren’t ruling rule out the hypothesis he could have used different schemes with other victims.

It’s also likely that he’s been active for many years in a larger sector of Laval, and the North Shore.

Anyone who would have been a victim of Cauvier, or has information about this file, can communicate, confidentially, on the SPL info line at 450 662-INFO (4636) or 911, mentioning the file. LVL-221001-007. (C.P./IJL)

translated by Alec Brideau

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The major operation, related to urban firearm violence in recent months, is being deployed in collaboration with the police forces of Montreal, Deux-Montagnes, Saint-Jérôme and Longueuil.

About 150 police officers are working on that case, carrying out the various interventions, some of which are taking place in Montreal, Saint-Jérôme and Deux-Montagnes.

That’s the result of an investigation, initiated in August as part of the Centaur project, in which the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are also taking part.

At the SPL, it’s the Organized Crime Division that’s involved in the operation, which has already been helpful, since narcotics and firearms would have already been confiscated.

A more complete report of the operation, which is still in progress, will be presented later.

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The scene occurred around 4:16 p.m., time of the 911 call, yesterday afternoon, in the busy sector of Laval-des-Rapides.

An 81-year-old man, with a 54-year-old passenger by his side, was trying to park his car at the supermarket.

Wanting to position himself to immobilize his car in a parking space, the man first backed into a car, already parked behind him, and inside which was a lady.

In panic, the driver then made a turn, and pressed the accelerator, hitting a 41-year-old woman who was on the road.

She ended up on her hood, while the 81-year-old man then hit two other vehicles, as well as a 68-year-old person. He then hit the two posts installed in front of the main entrance to the business.

It propelled the 41-year-old woman to the ground, the latter finding herself in an unfortunate position, partially lying under the engine block of the vehicle, which then smashed the front doors in its tracks.

Intervention

Arriving on site at 4:20 p.m., barely four minutes after the 911 call, the eight firefighters required for the intervention, two units from Laval’s Fire and Safety Department, quickly gave first aid to the victim.

In addition to experiencing severe nervous shock, the victim suffered very serious arm fractures, and facial lacerations.

After stabilizing the victim, firefighters were able to hand her over quickly, at 4:23 p.m., to the Urgences-santé paramedics, so that she could be transported to a hospital. Luckily, her condition remains stable.

As for the other two people injured, they were both treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The scene was then entrusted to officers from the Service de police de Laval (SPL), to investigate the circumstances of that spectacular accident.

translated by Alec

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