Quebec provincial police officer killed during attempted arrest
A Sûreté du Québec police officer and a suspect have died in an incident in Louiseville, Que., near Trois-Rivières. A second police officer was injured, but he is expected to recover.
Provincial police say they went to a residence on Monday at around 8:30 p.m. to carry out an arrest for threats when Sgt. Maureen Breau was stabbed.
Two more police officers arrived on the scene and shot and killed the suspect. According to Radio-Canada sources, the suspect is Isaac Brouillard Lessard.
Lessard has had run-ins with law enforcement.
In the last decade, he's been charged with uttering threats and assault multiple times.
In three separate court proceedings, he was found not criminally responsible for his actions. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to assault and he was released on conditional discharge, given two years of probation and assigned to 200 hours of community service.
Breau had over 20 years of experience with the SQ.
Quebec's independent police watchdog (BEI) will investigate the deaths and the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) will hold a parallel criminal investigation.
The people who live in the building are being looked after by the Red Cross at a motel where they will stay until investigators are done examining the scene, said Louiseville Mayor Yvon Deshaies.
Neighbour Stéphane Caron says he saw everything while taking the trash out Monday night.
"I heard four gun shots — boom boom boom boom — it happened so fast. One of the police officers fell from the second floor after being stabbed, another one was stabbed, the guy was shot and he's dead," he said.
"I turned off my TV and sat at home, I don't want to leave my house now. It was dangerous, it's right next to me, just three doors down from me."
WATCH | Witness describes violent scene:
Mayor Deshaies said he was shaken up by the events and he feels bad for Breau's family.
"Stay strong. You will live through sadness, hatred and rage," he said.
"I am sorry because [the suspect] has a father and mother, maybe brothers and sisters. They will suffer, too [...] But I stand behind the officer who closed his eyes forever."
Quebec's public security minister, François Bonnardel, tweeted out his condolences to Breau's family and her colleagues.
"Today reminds us that police officers have a dangerous job," he said. "I can never thank them enough for their sacrifices."
