Montreal

Montreal police racially profiled LaSalle man, Quebec commission rules

The Quebec human rights commission has concluded that a LaSalle man was racially profiled by two Montreal police officers in a case dating back to April 2010.

Former high school teacher says he was roughed up by two officers in 2010 while waiting for take-out

Farid Charles is calling on Montreal officials, including the chief of police, to do more to prevent racial profiling. (Elias Abboud/CBC)

The Quebec human rights commission has concluded that a LaSalle man was racially profiled by two Montreal police officers in a case dating back to April 2010.

Farid Charles alleges he was approached by two Montreal police officers, yanked outside of the car, punched and arrested for loitering while he was waiting for take-out food in his friend's car outside a LaSalle restaurant four years ago.

The commission has recommended that Charles be awarded $33,000.

I can only imagine what has happened to other people- Farid Charles, alleged victim of racial profiling

The commission also recommended that the Montreal police department implement training to help prevent future incidents.

Charles said he was pleased with the decision. 

He said City Hall should be taking a closer look at racism and racial profiling to prevent future injustices.

"I feel the mayor needs to be accountable, I feel the police chief needs to be accountable.. they should start looking at the problems that are in the system today and start doing something about it," he said. 

"I can only imagine what has happened to other people, but they don't have the means and the resources or maybe the courage they need to speak out."

Police ethics committee: Officers not guilty of racial profiling

In February 2013, the police ethics committee found Sgt. Christopher Brault and Sgt. Mathieu Boucher-Bacon guilty of four breaches of the Quebec Code of Ethics for Police Officers.

The officers were suspended, but the ethics committee refused to acknowledge that they were guilty of racial profiling.