Fatal police responses to mentally distressed
It’s a complex scenario that has been addressed by coroners, examined by mental health experts, wrestled with internally by police forces and decried by advocates for years.
And yet, Tuesday evening in Montreal’s Gay Village, it unfolded again, the early details of what happened already drawing similarities to past incidents in the city.
According to investigators, a 58-year-old man was distressed and holding a screwdriver in each hand when police were called to his apartment around 7 p.m. A tense confrontation ensued. Tasers and plastic bullets failed to subdue him, so multiple shots were fired. The man died in a hospital two hours later, and neighbours later said he appeared to have mental health issues.
Addressing similar police interventions in recent years, two coroners have called for more mental health services and better police training in Montreal to improve responses to calls involving mentally distressed people. They’ve also recommended more stun guns to avoid shots being fired. In its 2016 annual report, released Wednesday, the SPVM said it responded to the recommendations by giving its patrollers 10 additional Tasers last year. It plans to add more in 2017.
A strategic plan launched by the SPVM in 2013 to improve mental health interventions expired two years ago. At the time, the force said it received more than 30,000 calls each year — or at least 90 each day — about people caught in the throes of a mental health crisis.
Following this week’s fatal shooting, here’s a look at other Montreal police interventions involving mentally ill residents that turned fatal.
In September 1999, Montreal police intervened after a man was publicly masturbating outside Shed Café on St-Laurent Blvd. Jean-Pierre Lizotte, a 45-year-old homeless man, was wrestled to the ground by a doorman while two patrolling officers watched from a distance. Once they intervened, Const. Giovanni Stante delivered six blows to Lizotte’s head while trying to subdue him. Lizotte suffered a spinal cord injury during the altercation and died six weeks later. Stante was later charged with manslaughter. He was acquitted in 2002.
In June 2011, a Montreal police officer fatally shot Mario Hamel, mentally ill and homeless, who was using a knife to slice open garbage bags on St-Denis St. He allegedly charged police when they arrived to investigate. Bystander Patrick Limoges, on his way to work at St. Luc hospital, was hit by a stray or ricocheted bullet fired during that confrontation. He also died.
In January 2012, Farshad Mohammadi, mentally ill and homeless, attacked an officer with an X-acto knife as police tried to get him to leave the Bonaventure métro station. As Mohammadi tried to flee, he was fatally shot in the back. In his report, coroner Jean Brochu called for better training for officers on how to deal with people battling mental illness.
In February 2014, police were called to a hostel on Berri St. after reports of a man threatening staff and breaking windows with a hammer. When police arrived, 41-yearold homeless man Alain Magloire, a father of two who held a master’s degree in biology before becoming mentally ill, was clutching a hammer in his hand. Four police officers moved toward Magloire with guns drawn. A squad car approached the scene and hit him. A scuffle ensued when Magloire got back to his feet. He raised the hammer and was shot four times. His death led to a lengthy coroner’s inquest during which the SPVM’s approach to handling mentally ill people was criticized.
In April 2016, Montreal police fatally shot André Benjamin, 63, in his apartment building in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. Police later said Benjamin was in “psychological distress” and was wielding a knife when they arrived. Neighbours reported hearing three consecutive gunshots; police confirmed Benjamin was shot at least once.
In January 2017, Montreal police responded to a call concerning a stabbing at a building near Complex Guy Favreau. Police later located a suspect, 38-year-old Jimmy Cloutier, at the Old Brewery Mission. When they apprehended him soon after in a nearby alleyway, police say he was holding a knife in each hand, refusing to drop them. Cloutier charged toward police and was fatally shot. He was known to be battling mental health issues.