François Carrier

François Carrier – Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – On March 11, the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) announced that the woman who was found unconscious in the interrogation room of the Campbell’s Bay Sûreté du Québec (SQ) station has died.

Friday, March 1, around 2:30 p.m., the BEI launched an investigation into the circumstances of a detention involving the SQ station. According to information released by the BEI, around 8:40 a.m., SQ police officers arrested a woman at her home. Later in the day, around 11:15 a.m., she was allegedly found unconscious on the floor of the SQ station’s interrogation room. First aid was provided to her, and she was then transported to a hospital where her condition was considered serious. No further information has been made available at this time by the BEI.

According to procedure in this type of case, no theory can be mentioned, nor any element of the investigation made public before the conclusion, which can take several months. Contacted by CHIP FM, the BEI nevertheless confirmed that the interrogation room is monitored by cameras, and they are in possession of the footage.

Five BEI investigators were tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the intervention; given normal procedures in this type of case, the Montreal police are taking over the original criminal investigation that led to the arrest, as the SQ cannot continue the investigation while they are under investigation. The BEI is asking anyone who may have witnessed this event to contact them via their website: www.bei.gouv.qc.ca. BEI investigations take on average just over five months.

The BEI’s mission is to shed complete light on the facts surrounding the police intervention. The BEI investigates all cases where a person, other than a police officer on duty, dies, suffers serious injury or is injured by a firearm used by a police officer during a police intervention or while in police custody.

Both the SQ and the Montreal City Police Service declined to comment due to the ongoing BEI investigation.

François Carrier – Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – Friday, March 1, around 2:30 p.m., the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) launched an investigation into the circumstances of a detention involving the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) station in Campbell’s Bay. According to information released by the BEI, around 8:40 a.m., SQ police officers arrested a person at their home. Later in the day, around 11:15 a.m., the person was allegedly found unconscious on the floor of the SQ station’s interrogation room. First aid was provided to them and they were then transported to a hospital where their condition was considered serious. No further information has been made available at this time by the BEI.

According to procedure in this type of case, no theory can be mentioned, nor any element of the investigation made public before the conclusion, which can take several months. Contacted by CHIP FM, the BEI nevertheless confirmed that the interrogation room is monitored by cameras, and the BEI is in possession of the footage.

Five BEI investigators were tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the intervention and given the procedures in this type of case, the Montreal police are taking over the original criminal investigation that led to the arrest, as the SQ can not continue the investigation while themselves being investigated. The BEI is asking anyone who may have witnessed this event to contact them via their website: www.bei.gouv.qc.ca. BEI investigations take on average just over five months.

The BEI’s mission is to shed complete light on the facts surrounding the police intervention. The BEI investigates all cases where a person, other than a police officer on duty, dies, suffers serious injury or is injured by a firearm used by a police officer during a police intervention or while in police custody.

Both the SQ and the Montreal City Police Service declined to comment due to the BEI investigation. BEI confirmed to the Journal that the person who was found unconscious was still hospitalized and in serious condition as of the morning of March 8.

François Carrier
Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – On January 17, Carrefour jeunesse-emploi du Pontiac (CJEP) announced a new ski and snowshoe loan program to be hosted in a cabin adjacent to their Campbell’s Bay office. The program is part of the Circonflex Project, an initiative of Loisir Sport Outaouais (LSO) in collaboration with Ski at School and several local partners including CJEP, the Maison des Jeunes and Le Patro de Mansfield. Sylviana Geoffray, a development officer at LSO, explained that Ski at School is looking to expand its popular programs to make cross-country ski equipment accessible to the general public. She said that to begin, the loan centre will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and that anyone can borrow skis or snowshoes for free, on a first-come, first-served basis. She said they are working on implementing an online booking system.

Campbell’s Bay Councillor Jean-Pierre Landry said the project fits well with his municipality’s vision for outdoor recreation, as they have invested heavily in the infrastructure of nearby Maurice Beauregard Park and the municipality wanted to offer something for the winter months. “It fits in well with the development of our year-round activities. So, Maurice Beauregard Park has been ‘3 seasons’ and now we’ve just added a fourth season, with skiing. As a result, we will have a year-round service offer for recreation and sports right here in Campbell’s Bay.”

According to Karim El Kerch, Executive Director of CJEP, this new project should also generate economic benefits for merchants and demonstrates the potential of the recreational tourism sector in the Pontiac. “The Carrefour, their main role, or mission is supporting the development of the population of the Pontiac in a general way through continuing education, access to the job market, and personal, social and professional autonomy.” explained El Kerch. More details are available on site in Campbell’s Bay or on the CJEP website.

François Carrier
Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – On January 9 at the Campbell’s Bay courthouse, a Pontiac man was sentenced to 78 months (6 1/2 years) in prison for sexually assaulting a minor. To protect the victim, a publication ban was issued and the identity of the convicted man hasn’t been revealed.

Simon Pelletier, Criminal and Penal Prosecution Prosecutor for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DCPC), elaborated on the sentence and publication ban.

“In almost all cases involving a minor who is the victim of a sexual crime, their identity will be protected by the courts. In some cases when there’s some connection between the victim and the accused, the name of the accused can’t be reported either. That’s the case here. I can’t go into detail on the relationship, however. If we were to report the name of the accused, it would have the almost inevitable effect of identifying the victim,” he said.

Pelletier said the sentence was a mutual agreement between the Crown and the defence. “It’s common. In the majority of cases, we look at the crime’s details and suggest a fitting sentence. In cases involving sexual crimes against children, the sentences are always very severe. Since the Supreme Court’s Friesen decision, the sentencing scale for sexual crimes against children has been increased. Why? The Supreme Court has sent a message that sexual crimes against children are unacceptable and if a person commits this offence, they should go to jail and receive a sentence that hurts,” he told the Journal.

Crime Victim Assistance Centres (CAVACs) provide front-line services to victims, their loved ones, and even witnesses. Janie Landry of the Pontiac CAVAC said help is available whether or not the perpetrator is identified, arrested, prosecuted or convicted. More details about CAVAC are available at https://chipfm.com/chip-1019-d….

François Carrier
Local Journalism Initiative

CAMPBELL’S BAY – The trial of Emily Rumleskie, charged in the accident causing the death of Sylvain Bégin in Mansfield in September 2020, is expected to begin at the end of February.

However, Rumleskie has already been behind bars for a few months for failing to comply with the conditions of her release. Simon Pelletier, Prosecutor for Criminal and Penal Prosecutions for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DCPC), elaborated on the next steps and what put Rumleskie behind bars:

“Ms. Rumleskie is charged with, among other things, dangerous and impaired driving causing death and is now detained. She was released initially [but conditions were violated] so she was detained and released yet again before [committing more breaches] … So, she’s been in custody since September or October. Preliminary hearings took place over about 8 days. On February 27, there will be a preliminary inquiry before a judge at the courthouse in Campbell’s Bay where the investigating officer and witnesses will be heard. This date will hopefully end the preliminary hearing [process] in Ms. Rumleskie’s case,” he explained.

The February 27 hearing, to take place at the Campbell’s Bay Courthouse, will be open to the public.