Latest news with #VéroniqueDubuc
Montreal Gazette
24-06-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Two who drowned at Verdun beach in June were outside designated swim area
By Hundreds of beachgoers descended on Verdun beach Tuesday, one day after a second swimmer in the span of just over two weeks had drowned in its waters. Both swimmers had been outside of the designated swim area when they went missing, Montreal police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc told The Gazette. Six lifeguards were on duty on Tuesday, according to a lifeguard who wasn't authorized to speak to the media, who added that this is the typical number for a public holiday. He confirmed that neither swimmer had stayed within the buoys marking the sanctioned swimming zone when they had gone missing. Swimmers and sunbathers had to compete to secure limited spots in front of the swim area on a scorching Fête nationale that saw Environment Canada issue a heat warning and measuring Humidex values in the 40s. The official swim area 'is very small,' beachgoer Naomi Pieton told The Gazette. 'There are too many people, so people go farther,' she said. Pieton, who said she was aware of the drownings, sat just outside of the marked area, but said she would be attentive to the strong current that risks pulling people underwater. 'We're going to stay in the closed-off zone,' said Mathilde, who was at the beach with her young child. Borough of Verdun spokesperson Catherine Charbonneau declined The Gazette's request to answer questions about safety measures at the beach in the wake of the two deaths. By mid-afternoon, workers could be seen installing fences around unofficial bathing spots in the area, though people in those areas didn't leave. This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- CTV News
Video captures violent alleged car theft in front of Montreal school
An SPVM police vehicle is seen in Montreal, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi) A striking video posted online shows a violent alleged car theft taking place in front of an elementary school on Palm Avenue in Montreal's Saint-Henri neighbourhood on Monday. The video shows a driver erratically accelerating and reversing a silver vehicle on the street outside the school as multiple people try to stop him. 'Watch out! Watch out!' someone yells as people jump out of the way. At one point, as the car accelerates, a person wearing a high-visibility vest can be seen grabbing onto a woman and swinging her to the ground. Just after, the car reverses again, and the front passenger door, swinging forcibly as the car jerks back and forth, smacks the same woman in the face. 'Call the cops, please!' someone screams out as the vehicle speeds away. Montreal police (SPVM) confirmed the incident, saying it received a 911 call at 1:10 p.m. 'There were two individuals implicated in the situation,' said Véronique Dubuc, a spokesperson with Montreal police. 'By the time police arrived on the scene, they located the two suspects.' The individuals were arrested and brought to the detention centre for questioning. They have not been charged with any crimes. There were no reported injuries.
Montreal Gazette
14-06-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Passerby drives off in Montreal police car, crashes into vehicles
Montreal Crime A 32-year-old man was arrested on Friday after allegedly driving off in a police cruiser from the scene of a traffic accident in Montreal, then crashing into multiple vehicles as he fled. The suspect, who was not involved in the original incident, allegedly took off in the unattended cruiser while officers were responding to an accident involving a cyclist and a car around 4:50 p.m. at the intersection of du Parc-La Fontaine Ave. and Roy St. in the Plateau–Mont-Royal borough, according to Montreal police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc. As the man fled, he struck two civilian vehicles, five police vehicles and a BIXI bike terminal, Dubuc said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MONTRÉAL STORIES (@mtl_stories) A 28-year-old woman in one of the civilian vehicles suffered minor facial injuries and was taken to a hospital. Her injuries are not considered life-threatening. The stolen cruiser was located near the intersection of Papineau Ave. and Gilford St., where a man was arrested following a police pursuit. He was taken to a detention centre. He now faces several charges, including theft of a police vehicle, driving while impaired by drugs and/or alcohol, dangerous driving and assault with a weapon. He was scheduled to appear before a judge Saturday morning. This story was originally published June 14, 2025 at 11:30 AM.
Montreal Gazette
14-06-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Police open hate-crime probe after graffiti is sprayed-painted on Montreal mosque
Montreal police have launched a hate-crime investigation after graffiti reading 'F--k Gaza' was spray-painted on multiple sides of a mosque in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough. The vandalism occurred on June 10, but officers were only called to the scene the following day, according to SPVM spokesperson Véronique Dubuc. Police were dispatched to the Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization building on Belmont St. near Décarie Blvd., where they found three pieces of blue spray-painted graffiti. In a post on social media, the centre condemned the incident as 'not just graffiti' but 'hate,' describing it as Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian. The centre wrote: 'This attack was meant to intimidate us, but they don't realize how united we are.' The investigation has been transferred to the SPVM's hate-crimes unit, which is reviewing surveillance footage. No injuries or arrests have been reported. It comes as the number of reported hate crimes in Montreal increased in 2024, according to the SPVM's latest annual report.
Toronto Star
13-06-2025
- Toronto Star
Police hate unit to investigate graffiti on downtown Montreal mosque
MONTREAL - Montreal police say the force's hate crimes unit will investigate anti-Palestinian graffiti placed this week on a downtown mosque. The Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization was hit with graffiti in three places of the downtown Montreal building on Tuesday. Const. Véronique Dubuc says the police hate unit has opened an investigation and are studying surveillance video. She said there were no injuries or arrests. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Muslim Association of Canada, a non-profit group, says mosques across the country have been subjected to hate, particularly in response to the 20-month Israel-Hamas war. According to the police force's annual report, there was an increase in the number of hate crimes reported in 2024. It also said nearly half of the hate crimes reported in Montreal involved ethnicity, nationality or skin colour. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
