The Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) is investigating the circulation, on social networks, of a video in which a young man, who has just been arrested for possession of a weapon, offers a investigator to help him seize weapons and drugs, publication which puts his life in danger.
This case, of which Press was informed, is doubly thorny, as the video appears to come from evidence that was disclosed but not filed in court, and allegedly began circulating on social media just hours after the disclosure.
“We confirm that an investigation has been held for obstructing justice, intimidation and threats. We work closely with the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions. We take the situation very seriously. The aim of the investigation is to determine the source of this leak and to bring the person responsible to justice, ”said SPAL spokesperson Jean-Pierre Voutsinos.
According to our information, the young man, aged 20, who is still detained, would be protected in prison, which Mr. Voutsinos could not confirm to us.
Evidence is disclosed when the prosecution hands it over to the defense after a suspect’s arrest, at the time of the suspect’s appearance, or shortly thereafter. It becomes public once it is filed in court.
” I will help you “
In this case, the young man was arrested overnight from Friday to Saturday. He appeared and was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, assault and assault with a weapon on Saturday. However, as of Tuesday, the video statement he made to an investigator in the hours following his arrest would have circulated on social networks.
He was arrested with another individual in Quartier DIX30 when the two men had just quarreled with customers of a bar. He had a loaded gun on him and was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
After his arrest, an investigator questioned him in a room at the SPAL headquarters. The scene was filmed. However, it is only a very compromising short passage of 50 seconds of this interrogation which appears on the video of a total duration of 1 min 16 s which circulates on social networks.
“Listen, my friend, I want you to help me, that’s what I want. I want you to help me strike a deal with the prosecutor, ”the suspect launches to the investigator.
” I will help you. I will bring you back to them because I, you stopped me with a small gun that day. Do you want five or six guns? Do you want some real guns? Do you want to go to the houses where there is this? Coke? “
Instead of pissing off little people like me, man, well, I’m going to help you if that can make you leave me alone there, because I want to change my life, that’s why I’m asking you to.
The suspect speaking to the investigator, in the video circulating on social networks
The video, on which the word “rat” appears, contains other compromising elements for the young man, in particular his name and date of birth.
Her troubled lawyer
“We are confused. The evidence in a case does not have to end up on social networks, ”said Me Marie-Hélène Giroux, whose office, more particularly Me Cynthia Payer represents the young man who finds himself in a bad position.
M’s officee Giroux took note of the evidence on Wednesday when the video has already started to circulate since the day before on social networks.
The other individual arrested along with the suspect in the video, who is charged with assault and assault with a weapon but not possession of a weapon, was granted bail after depositing $ 500 and agreed to abide by conditions.
His lawyer, Me Noémi Tellier, did not want to speak publicly without having spoken with her client and having had all the information.
At the time of writing, the spokesperson for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, Mr.e Audrey Roy-Cloutier, was unable to comment on the situation. Such a case will surely be of interest to the Bar.
“I’ve never seen that,” reacted a seasoned Montreal criminal lawyer, Mr.e Yves Ménard.
With Patrick Lagacé, Press
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, extension 4918, write to drenaud@lapresse.ca or write to the postal address of Press.