‘I can’t breathe, guys’: Ontario man accuses police in Quebec of using excessive force

Police in Laval, Quebec, have stated that officers were following protocol after videos emerged showing the violent arrest of a tourist from Toronto over the Labour Day weekend.

Gulaid Omar was in Laval, located just north of Montreal, to celebrate a work anniversary with family and friends on September 1 when the incident occurred involving Laval police officers.

“We wanted to see Montreal,” Omar said. “We were actually planning to go to Taco Fest and enjoy a long weekend there.”

Omar, who is Black, reported that he was in his rental car with his cousins when a police cruiser drove by and an officer shone a flashlight into the vehicle.

The cruiser continued driving as Omar and his passengers proceeded towards a lounge. They were about six meters from the car when the cruiser turned around and returned to their direction, according to Omar.

“They drove onto the curb and then started yelling,” Omar said. “They told us to ‘Get back into the car’ and turned on their lights.”

Omar said he repeatedly asked the officers why he was being detained.

“And on the third time I asked, he pushed me with a stiff arm to my shoulder and chest, and I was confused,” Omar explained. “I said, ‘Don’t touch me. I know my rights,’ and that seemed to agitate him.”