Jail manager charged following death of illegally detained 21-year-old in Quebec

Quebec provincial police have arrested a man in connection with the death of Nicous D'Andre Spring, 21, who was fatally injured while being illegally detained at Bordeaux jail in 2022.

Sébastien Bossé, 54, was charged with manslaughter at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday. The accused, a Bordeaux jail manager, was released and is expected back in court on Aug. 22.

In an emailed statement, the Public Security Ministry said the accused was a unit head at the time but was relieved of his duties in December 2022.

Someone bearing the same name as him co-authored a book on the history of the Bordeaux jail. 

The arrest comes two years after Spring's family demanded an inquiry into systemic racism in the provincial detention system.

On Dec. 24, 2022, guards fitted Spring's head with a spit hood and pepper-sprayed him twice before he was taken to hospital, where he died.

A judge had ordered Spring's release from the jail the day before, but he remained behind bars when he suffered injuries leading to his death.

Quebec's Public Security Ministry has described Spring's detention as "illegal" for that reason.

Spring's sister, Sarafina Dennie, said in the statement in 2023 that her brother needed support but was treated by jail guards like a "rabid animal."

"They put a spit mask on him and a supervisor ordered agents to pepper-spray him while he was still wearing the mask," she said. "Correction officers are supposed to be trained to deal with inmates with special needs."

Spring was arrested by Montreal police on Dec. 20. He appeared in court on Dec. 23 on charges of assaulting a peace officer, criminal harassment and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He was also facing two counts of failing to comply with a condition of release. He had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.