Montreal cop cited for excessive force during 2007 arrest

MONTREAL – A Montreal police officer has been cited for using excessive force during an arrest in 2007 that saw a man repeatedly tasered before being taken into custody.

The Quebec Police Ethics Commission ruled this week that Constable Yannick Bordeleau used excessive force while arresting Quillem Registre. A second constable, Steve Thibert, was also cited by the commission for not having intervened when Bordeleau used that excessive force.

Registre, who was tasered six times, died four days after his arrest. A coroner concluded that while cocaine and alcohol in Registre’s system might have contributed it to his death, it was “difficult to believe (the taserings) played no role.”