The mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that the police had caught his assailant armed with a brick on Thursday morning.
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The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) arrested Nicolas David, 40, a citizen of the municipality of 850 souls, who allegedly smashed the windshield of the mayor’s van using a brick, last Saturday.
“I am relieved personally, but also for the surrounding population. We are a small village and the population will be able to sleep more peacefully,” says Alain Talbot, from the outset, on the sidelines of the Annual Congress of the Fédération québécoise des municipalities (FQM).
The mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy, Alain Talbot, saw the windshield of his van shatter when a citizen threw a brick at him on September 21, 2024.
Photo Le Journal de Québec Stéphanie Martin
Earlier this week, a video he captured himself was circulating on social media. We can see a man approaching the mayor’s vehicle, visibly angry.
The assailant threw his weapon at the windshield, shattering it. Although psychologically shaken, Mr. Talbot did not suffer any injuries, but filed a complaint with the SQ.
The suspect was the subject of an arrest warrant since the video was broadcast by the son of the municipal elected official. He was due to appear at the Montmagny courthouse on Thursday on charges of assault, mischief and breach of condition.
Long conflict
The relationship between the two people involved has been extremely tense for several years. Wanting to avoid going into details since the story is legalized, Alain Talbot simply explained that a disagreement with municipal regulations would be involved.
“ [Ça perdurait] since 2017. I would dare to say that it is a source of conflict that we see in several municipalities,” argues the mayor, specifying that it is the delays and complications for granting permits that would have caused this matter to degenerate .
Law still unknown
The mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Montminy asks the FQM and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to clarify the provisions of the new Law for the protection of elected officials so that it is easier to understand the possible uses for municipal representatives .
“We want to have a summary, to know how this law can serve us. I sincerely hope this will improve things. I’m not criticizing those who make the laws, it’s not easy to have something that will be applicable.”
Alain Talbot met Minister Laforest during the FQM annual conference to discuss the security of elected officials and his personal experience.
Photo Le Journal de Québec Stéphanie Martin
The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest, emphasizes, however, that Bill 57 was adopted last June and that a certain amount of time must be allowed before it becomes known to all stakeholders.
“Of course he found it long, he would have liked everyone to have a copy and the training to understand it. […] At least we adopted the law, so there are criminal measures and possibilities of arrest,” she concludes.
– With the collaboration of Stéphanie Martin
