Djeneba Dosso

LJI Reporter

The Gatineau police have released a detailed review of the raid operation that took place in the parking lot of the Robert-Guertin Centre on November 7. The police operation, which began at 6:00 am and was carried out well into the afternoon, had a criminal component, as well as a penal component that involved the expulsion of the occupants from the municipal land. 

In what they described as a “large-scale operation,” Gatineau police made 15 arrests, executed five search warrants in trailers and seized more than a dozen firearms, ammunition, a machete, over 1,000 methamphetamine tablets and several other illegal and dangerous items. 

The call for the operation came from the City of Gatineau to relocate tents and trailers out of the Robert-Guertin Centre parking lot in order to allow the Village Transition construction site to start quickly. 

Recall, November 7’s intervention was divided in two components: criminal and penal. The assessment of the criminal investigation details police seized five trailers as infringing on property. During the operation, a list of items were seized including homemade weapons (metal and billiard balls in stockings and pétanque balls in a pillowcase); two baseball bats; one crossbow with arrow; one lead rifle with a target scope; one rifle and three air guns (firearm replicas). In addition to four scales; two cannabis shedders; more than 10 grams of cannabis; two crack pipes and vape; two passports and various identity documents; several substances and tablets to be identified; many crack rocks and various prescription drug tablets.

Subsequently, police made 15 arrests, two people were released without charge, two more were released on the scene and await charges by summons and eleven people remained detained to appear in the Court of Quebec. Those arrested face various charges including possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, simple possession, breakage of condition, threats, assault on agent, obstacle to the work of police officers, and possession of firearms ammunition. However, police have said further arrests could be made and additional charges could be laid as the investigation is ongoing.

The penal portion of the investigation, which focused on relocating occupants, targeted 13 problematic trailers. Despite “all the efforts of consultation and mediation” made by police, the press release details “the occupants of 13 trailers refused to cooperate and move their trailers.” They were all presented with a written eviction notice by a representative of the City of Gatineau, alongside a verbal notice via loudspeaker twice. Only one person left of their own will. Police detail the notice was given three times and each time occupants refused to cooperate. Those who refused to leave were escorted outside the perimeter to allow for the Public Works Department of the City of Gatineau to begin cleaning the perimeter. By the end of the day, the trailers were towed to the municipal pound and alternative accommodation was offered to occupants of eight of the 13 trailers, while community partners recovered their personal belongings. 

The site was later secured by the Public Works Department to prevent other people from settling in the trailers. The Animal Control Section took part in the police operation to take care of the pets that were in the 13 trailers.

The major operation wouldn’t have been possible without the deployment of more than 70 police officers and the participation of several partners, including the SPVG intervention group, the Sûreté du Québec tactical intervention group, investigators and intelligence officers of the Criminal Investigations Division, the Crisis Intervention Unit team of the SPVG and the CISSS of Outaouais, specialized police officers who are part of the SPVG’s Order Maintenance and Restoration Unit, the Canine Unit, the Forensic Identity Service, the Communications Officers, as well as the SPVG Communications Section, the Prosecutors of the Legal Affairs Department of the City of Gatineau, and the Prosecutors of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.

Chief Inspector Mathieu Guilbault of the Criminal Investigations Division says the increasing violence in the city hasn’t gone unnoticed, stating the police is actively listening and responding to the population’s concerns. 

“We know that violent events in recent weeks have not been reported to the Police Service, that victims are afraid to report situations that worry them or to ask for help, and that witnesses have fears about their safety. We understand that it is difficult for these people to trust the authorities. However, we want to tell them that our employees are ready to listen to them, welcome them and accompany them through the complaint process if they wish to move forward. They will be taken seriously without judgement. We hope that the operations of recent weeks have proven to them that the Police Service will not tolerate any violent offences.”

The investigations at the site of the Robert-Guertin Centre are to continue. Police urge anyone who has information about potentially criminal events that have occurred to contact them via their info line at 819-243-4636, extension 5. 

Photo: Chief Inspector Mathieu Guilbault of the Criminal Investigations Division (right) and Stéphane Raymond, Deputy Director of Police Operations and commander of the operation conducted on November 7 (left) answer questions related to the raid that took place in the Robert-Guertin parking lot. (DD) Photo: Gatineau Police