Man wanted for threat to politician Tasered, guns seized during arrest

A Gatineau man accused of making threats directed at Quebec politicians is facing a slew of charges after a suspect led police on a chase Wednesday night, nearly struck an officer with his car, then resisted arrest as officers used a Taser to subdue him.

The suspect, a man in his 40s, was eventually arrested outside his home in the Mont-Luc neighbourhood, Gatineau police said Thursday, where the joint operation between provincial police and the local Gatineau force reached a dramatic conclusion on Wednesday evening.

The suspect, whose name isn't being released pending a court appearance where charges will be formally laid, was initially accused of making threats on Facebook regarding Quebec's policies on COVID -19.

The threat involves an unnamed politician and was posted to the man's personal social media account on Aug. 10, the day Quebec announced its intention to mandate vaccine passports.

The message contained a reference to Sept. 1, the date the passports are to be implemented, and included the message: “You will remember me.”

He also posted a picture of himself posing with a gun. Police later seized guns from his home.

Sgt. Audrey-Anne Bilodeau said Sûreté du Québec secured a search warrant for the man's residence, and asked Gatineau police for assistance.

Officers first tried to intercept him as he drove on Boulevard La Vérendrye around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, but after stopping, the suspect took off in the opposite direction, Bilodeau said.

Before he fled, however, the man struck a Sûreté du Québec cruiser with his vehicle, and nearly ran over a Gatineau police officer who was standing on the roadside.

“He was lucky he was able to dodge,” Bilodeau said.

Officers pursued the suspect to a home near Rue Mont-Luc, where the man continued to resist arrest, police said.

He was physically restrained but still tried to punch an officer, said Gatineau police agent Renée-Anne St-Amant. Officers deployed a Taser to subdue the suspect, who was taken to hospital for observation.

He's due to appear in court on charges including obstructing and assaulting an officer, assaulting an officer with a weapon, flight from police, and reckless driving.

Provincial police executed the search warrant and seized several guns, although police didn't elaborate on the firearms. They also seized a computer and electronic equipment.