Evacuation

Pointe Claire building evacuated after hit-and-run chase

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / April 27, 2024 / 55th Avenue, Evacuation, Lachine, residential building

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

Montreal police (SPVM) evacuated a residential building on Lakeshore in Pointe-Claire in search of two suspects linked to a hit and run on a police vehicle Monday. At approximately 12:30 Monday afternoon, patrol officers noticed two suspects attempting to steal a vehicle near 55th Avenue in Lachine. A suspect was apprehended while the second suspect managed to flee from officers on foot towards another alleged stolen vehicle parked nearby with an accomplice already in the drivers seat. The duo fled at high speed smashing into a police vehicle that hit a police officer nearby who was on foot before going onto highway 20 at which point police lost sight of their whereabouts.

The Quebec provincial police assisted in the operation closing a section of Highway 20 while the search for the suspects was underway. Minutes later, the vehicle in which the suspects fled was located at the far end of the parking lot of a residential building between Sources and St-Jean boulevards on Lakeshore road.

Residents witnessed police searching the vehicle moments before they were asked to evacuate the building. Police officers conducted a building-wide search. “It was scary, I heard the police knocking on doors and I looked outside and saw them with their guns out and I could hear their K9 dogs barking. I am just glad it is over,” Meagan, one of the buildings tenants, said to The Suburban. “I saw the police break the windshield of the car because they thought the guy was hiding inside. When they did not find him in the car, they came into the building,” The building manager, Gracel Dorado said to The Suburban. “We waited outside for about 30 minutes.”

After securing the building and reviewing footage from the security cameras, investigators were able to determine that at least one suspect fled on foot heading Eastbound. The SPVM’s K9 unit was deployed to help narrow the search.By 3:30 p.m., one 19-year old male suspect was arrested.The police officer who was hit at the early stages of the chase sustained non-life threatening injuries. n

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Evacuation on Querbes Street: Safety Measures Following a Dangerous Building Incident

Local Journalism Initiative / Nouvelles Parc-Extension News / February 23, 2024 / Dangerous Building Incident, Dimitris Ilias, Evacuation, Park-Extension, Querbes Street

Dimitris Ilias-LJI journalist

Residents of a multiplex on Querbes Street, nestled between St-Rock and Ogilvy on the east side, have been evacuated following a concerning incident involving loose bricks falling from the building onto the street. Councilor for Park-Extension, Mary Deros, has brought attention to this alarming situation.
The incident was reported earlier when loose bricks tumbling from the upper sections of the building were noticed. The Montreal authorities acted promptly, evacuating residents as a precautionary measure. The city’s building inspection department is currently assessing the structure’s integrity to determine the necessary repairs.
This incident strikes a particularly sensitive chord with the local community, as it mirrors a tragic event that occurred not long ago at the corner of Champagneur and St-Rock. In that incident, falling debris from a similar building led to the death of a father, leaving behind a grieving family. The family, recent immigrants to Canada, now faces the unimaginable challenge of rebuilding their lives in the absence of their loved one.
For the evacuated residents, the situation is a significant disruption. Many have expressed concerns about the duration of the displacement and the impact on their daily lives. However, there is a general consensus on the necessity of these safety measures.
The Querbes Street incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of building maintenance and safety regulations. While the current focus remains on the evacuated residents and the structural assessment of the building, the broader conversation about urban safety continues.

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