WATCH: Deadly tomato attack one year on
MONTREAL – The Parti Quebecois’ election to power last September sparked tension and even violence over language and in one case, an English-speaking Montreal man was targeted with a tomato at the Jewish General Hospital.
“The memories are all coming back of the shock that happened from the allergic reaction, and it took me a week to recover,” said Alex Montreuil, who now has to take a cocktail of allergy medication every day for the rest of his life.
The incident dates back to September 5, 2012, the day after Pauline Marois was elected.
Montreuil was ordering a bagel at the hospital cafe, when he asked the cafeteria staff to change their gloves.
After one woman behind the counter reluctantly cooperated and refused to respond in English, his friend raised his voice to warn that tomatoes could kill Montreuil.
Out of the blue, another patient allegedly approached him and said “Ici au Québec on parle français” (“Here in Quebec, we speak French”), before throwing a tomato sandwich directly in his face.
It was enough to send him into anaphylactic shock. The upside is that he was just a few feet away from the emergency room.
READ MORE: Montreal man recovering after tomato sandwich attack
“All I remember is I was seeing some security guards. I saw some people around me, then I was just brought right in to the ER because I was going all red.”
The hospital has since apologized and insisted that while staff members must understand English, they cannot be forced to speak it.
The woman who allegedly threw the tomato sandwich was officially charged with armed assault in April, when she entered a not-guilty plea.
But when she failed to show up for her second court appearance in June, an arrest warrant was issued for 30-year-old Evelyn Samantha Donis.
READ MORE: Alleged tomato sandwich attacker a no-show at Montreal court
“I’m very surprised that three months ago she missed a court appearance, a warrant was issued and nothing subsequent has happened,” deplored Elizabeth Goldenberg, allergy blogger and lawyer.
She noted that it seemed police aren’t actively searching for the suspect in this case.
“I doubt that it’s the type of case that would be red flagged for an active search of the suspect,” said criminal defense attorney Eric Sutton.
Police normally wait for suspects to turn up during minor traffic violations or while trying to leave the country.
“Generally, the warrants will stay in the system for 10 years. They can be renewed but after 10 years, they do at times just cancel the warrant and just drop the case,” said Sutton.
But leaders in the food allergy community are hoping for a trial, and clear consequences for the alleged attacker.
“We should see a precedent set that someone is held responsible,” said Goldenberg. “There should not be a snicker or a laugh behind this, or a dropping of the case.”
LISTEN: Canadian lawyer and food allergy expert on tomato sandwich attack
“It’s like attempted murder and I feel they’re not taking me seriously,” said Montreuil, who now suffers from depression.
He feels the justice system is adding insult to injury by making him continue to wait for justice, one year after the fact.
“I don’t deserve that, I don’t think anyone deserves that.”
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