Police close investigation on Montreal playoff riot with 56 arrests

Police close investigation on Montreal playoff riot with 56 arrests

Canadian Press
May 16, 2008

MONTREAL [Quebec] — Montreal police have wrapped up their investigation into last month’s hockey riot after arresting 56 people.

At least five police cars were torched and other property was smashed April 21 after the Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Boston Bruins in the NHL playoffs. Officers made 23 arrests at the time of the riot and 33 others in the days that followed. The alleged rioters face charges of vandalism, arson and assault.

Montreal police credit the public for helping with the investigation after some 300 citizens submitted hundreds of photos and videos taken during the action.

The police department points out in a release that none of the people arrested actually attended the game.

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Controversy over bail for Native man accused of attacking police cars

From the Montreal Gazette, April 26, 2008

…controversy was sparked by Quebec Court Judge Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré’s decision Thursday to grant bail to Davin Johnny, 33, an aboriginal living on welfare in Montreal.

Crown prosecutor Dominique Potvin told The Gazette he is considering appealing the decision. He would not comment on the judge’s ruling.

Potvin told the court Thursday that Johnny had been videotaped jumping on the roof of a police cruiser, smashing its lights, as well as helping to set two cruisers on fire after Monday night’s NHL playoff game.

Furthermore, Potvin said, Johnny told police he had destroyed the cruisers and would continue to vandalize police cars because he “hates the pigs.” Nevertheless, Westmoreland-Traoré released Johnny on bail with a 10 p.m. curfew and ordered him not to enter the area around the Bell Centre.

In delivering her judgment, the judge noted: “We have to take into account the fact you are a native American.” She added that aboriginals are “disadvantaged in our society, and that is sometimes shown by the heavy rate of underemployment and alcohol.” She also noted that Johnny has a minor criminal record of marijuana possession and theft. He is undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse, the judge said.

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