Reporter confronts Montreal police officer after alleged confrontation with man in wheelchair posted online

A Montreal police officer believed to be caught on video allegedly swearing at a man in a wheelchair refused to answer questions about the incident after being questioned by a Global News reporter.

A video posted this week shows a man in a wheelchair having his knapsack searched by a police officer after he had trouble getting across a busy street. The officer searching him, who’s wearing a red hat and reflective vest, tells him “I’m going to f***ing give you a ticket.”

“No problem, I’m in the middle of the street,” the frustrated man in the wheelchair tells another officer.

The officer searching the man’s bag repeatedly asks him for his name.

The man reportedly did not have any ID on him, prompting the officer to search the man’s bag, “without permission and removed a prescription medication bottle to get his name,” reads the write up on the video.

When a Global News reporter confronted the officer she believed was the same on involved in the incident, he referred her to the Montreal police department’s media line.

“There’s a video of you swearing at the man and screaming at a man in a wheelchair for crossing the street at McGill,” reporter Amanda Jelowicki tells the officer.

“Listen, I never saw that video, but you can always talk to…” he says before Jelowicki cuts in.

“You were screaming, swearing at a man in a wheelchair for crossing the street slowly,” she counters.

“No, I don’t think so,” he replies.

After the reporter asks the officer if he’d like to see the video, he declines.

“Madame, it’s sure I won’t comment on this today,” he replies. “You can always talk to management or media relations.”

After admitting he had been working the day before, the officer also admits to interventions but denies pushing anyone. When asked specifically about the man in the wheelchair, he again refers the reporter to media relations.

He’s then asked if he’s gentle with the people he’s intervening with.

“Did I intervene properly? Yes,” he says before admitting he gave tickets for infractions.

He then excuses himself to continue working. A few moments later, the reporter is again questioning the officer about the video, asking if he’d like to see it. He continues to decline the offer.

Jelowicki presses him some more, asking what would spur an officer to swear at a man. The officer continues to decline the questioning.

“What I am telling you is that I will tell you nothing, he says. “Okay, perfect. I won’t tell you about the interventions I did yesterday. You can always talk to the media line. That’s how it works. I hope you have a nice day.”