It occurred around 1 pm and involved a special constable from the courthouse and an 18-year-old man allegedly shot in the head. At least one shot was fired inside the Notre-Dame Street building during the event. Both individuals were transported to the hospital. The constable's state of health was still unknown in the evening. According to the information obtained by Le Droit, the young man was in a coma.
Police officers from the Sûreté du Québec were initially dispatched to the scene during the day before the Office of Independent Investigation (EIB) was seized of the case by the Minister of Public Security.
Eight EIB investigators were expected in Maniwaki around 9 pm on Wednesday evening.
Two forensic identification technicians from the Police Department of the City of Montreal support the EIB in the file. A large security perimeter was set up around the courthouse for the purposes of the investigation.
According to the first information provided by the EIB, the 18-year-old had managed to seize the special constable's telescopic stick and hit him on the head.
The latter would have subsequently seized his firearm before firing a shot at his assailant.
A video posted on Facebook by Christopher Lacaille, the cousin of the young man, allows to see part of the altercation in detail. This video became viral within minutes of the incident.
In the first moments, we see the special constable who tries to immobilize and control the defendant. He then asks a colleague to contact the police, but remains alone for several seconds with the young man.
Obviously in difficulty, the constable requires the assistance of security guards nearby. We finally come to offer reinforcement before the scuffle moves inside a room. The commotion continues until we hear a gunshot. Horrified witnesses scream as they see what has just happened.
Mr. Lacaille, who witnessed the scene and filmed everything, said last night always be in shock. "It's not an experience to live. I can not stop thinking about that, "he said.
Christoper Lacaille maintains that his cousin wanted to burn a cigarette before the situation degenerated.
"He was in a room waiting to go past the courtyard. He asked the guards super politely to go smoke a cigarette. The guards who took care of the transport of his transport did not want. It was there that he decided to head for the exit while walking. The guards intercepted him and that's where the friction started. He started to be violent and aggressive, "he told the law.
After this there was many threat against the special constable
MANIWAKI | A man was arrested in connection with death threats against the special constable who opened fire on Steven Bertrand at the Maniwaki courthouse on Wednesday.
The man, whose identity can not be released because he is a minor, wrote on Facebook that he was looking for the name of the special constable so that he could be shot too, before removing his message. a bit later.
The youth was arrested and charged with intimidating someone associated with the justice system.
The president of the Union of Special Constables of Quebec, Franck Perales, had denounced Thursday the threats on social networks against the employee.
He said he was relieved that the individual was arrested. "From the moment you utter threats or intimidate, I disembark. You have the right to be emotional after watching the video, but there are institutions in place that do their investigation. We must be careful about what we are saying to maintain a social peace in Quebec, "said Mr. Perales.
On Wednesday, Steven Bertrand, 18, asked the special constable to smoke a cigarette outside the Maniwaki courthouse, which was denied. There followed a dispute between the two men. The Special Constable asked for help from the security officers who were there, but they did not really intervene. At one point, Steven Bertrand managed to grab the telescopic staff of the special constable who responded by shooting him in the face.