The BEI did indeed launch an independent investigation on June 25 into the circumstances. According to preliminary information, the caller hung up when the emergency services were called and once on the scene, the police carried out a check and there was a physical intervention with a handcuffed person afterwards. .
This person would then have suffered a serious injury within the meaning of the regulations governing independent investigations and then be transported to hospital where his condition was deemed stable.
“The mission of the Office of Independent Investigations is to shed complete light on the facts surrounding the police intervention,” we can read on the Office’s website. The BEI investigates all cases where a person, other than a police officer on duty, dies, suffers serious injury or is injured by a firearm used by a police officer during a police intervention or while in custody of a body from police.”
The BEI is asking witnesses to come forward to allow the investigation to progress.
The Office of Independent Investigations also submitted an investigation report into an event that occurred in Stukely-Sud.
On June 12, 2022, a person died during an intervention involving the Sûreté du Québec.
Following the decision of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions on February 22, 2023 not to lay charges against the police officers involved during this event, the BEI closed the file in the absence of new facts.
Nine investigators worked on the case, obtaining the testimony of six civilian witnesses and the facts reported by the police.
Remember that Jean-Philippe Coutu was accused of the second degree murder of a 67-year-old woman in this case.
The police first received a call from a woman concerning an individual who was trying to enter her home. Once there, SQ agents arrested the suspect, then found the victim Jocelyne Lessard lifeless, strangled, in a wooded area outside the residence.
In conclusion, the obligations of the police officers involved and the director of the police service involved provided for in the Regulations respecting the conduct of investigations by the Bureau of Independent Investigations were respected.
