West Island man, arrested while trying to help flooded neighbours, granted discharge

A Montreal man who was arrested last month while he was taking part in flood relief efforts has pleaded guilty and been granted an unconditional discharge.

Alain Furlano, 54, therefore, has no sentence or probation to serve and no conditions to abide by.

Furlano pleaded guilty Thursday to obstruction of justice for refusing to obey police orders.

"At this moment, it was the best decision for my family and me so we could get on with our lives," he told CBC News.

• Man arrested while delivering sandbags to flood zone charged with obstructing justice
• Man delivering sandbags to flooded Roxboro street arrested by police

Furlano was arrested on May 9, while gathering sandbags on his pickup truck to deliver them to flooded neighbours.

The incident was all captured on video.

Man arrested after delivering sandbags to flooded area

8 years ago

Duration 1:03

Alain Furlano brought a pick-up truck and trailer full of sandbags to the corner of Gouin Boulevard and 5e Avenue. Police spokesperson Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant said Furlano was told repeatedly that by putting down sandbags he risked diverting the flow of water and eroding the ground underneath nearby train tracks.

Police warned Furlano, who was unloading sandbags close to nearby train tracks, that he would have to stop because it posed a safety risk.

However, Furlano arrived again minutes later, and another verbal altercation followed as Furlano continued to yell at officers, saying that he wanted to help residents affected by floodwaters.

He was arrested and when he appeared in court later that week, Furlano was released on the condition that he not go to a part of the flooded area in Pierrefonds-Roxboro.