De Bellefeuille reward offer gives traction to hit-and-run investigation
By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
A hit-and-run incident in Saint-Lazare has prompted local activist and Red Coalition founder and President Joel DeBellefeuille to take action, offering a $1,000 reward through his foundation for information on the identity of the responsible driver.
The incident occurred on January 7 on Côte Saint-Charles near Rue du Cumberland, where a young man in his twenties was struck while walking. In an exclusive interview with The Suburban, DeBellefeuille revealed disturbing details about the incident, including that the driver stopped to inspect damage to the vehicle before fleeing the scene, leaving the victim bleeding on the road.
“It takes a special kind of person to leave someone in a pool of blood,” DeBellefeuille said to The Suburban. The incident hit particularly close to home for him, as persons he has close relationships with frequently walk along the same stretch of road where the collision occurred.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) has identified the suspect vehicle as a black 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. Evidence collected at the scene includes parts of a bumper and a side mirror, with investigators noting the vehicle likely sustained damage to its right fender and side mirror.
DeBellefeuille, who encountered police blockades in the area while returning home that day, has been actively involved in raising awareness about the case. “I have a public platform, and I intend to use it,” he explained. “This person will be caught — there’s no doubt about it. They will not get away with this. Not on my watch.”
The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, after he managed to crawl back to his home bleeding quite severely.
Local law enforcement has expressed gratitude for the foundation’s involvement in the case, which has helped maintain public attention on the investigation.
As the investigation continues, DeBellefeuille remains vigilant, noting that he’s been particularly alert to any vehicles matching the description of the suspect’s Jeep. His foundation’s reward offer underscores a community-driven effort to bring closure to this case and ensure justice is served. His social media post has reached thousands of viewers and continues to be shared on a daily basis.
The SQ is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact their Criminal Information Centre at 1-800-659-4264. All calls will be treated confidentially. n
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