MONTREAL – When you first meet Corey Shapiro, one word comes to mind: flashy.
From his colourful wardrobe to the diamond grills on his teeth, he’s definitely one-of-a-kind.
The eccentric look is part of the job for the 32-year-old.
He works as a fashion eyewear maker.
His glasses are worn by many in the entertainment business including Lady Gaga and Elton John.
Recently, Shapiro added a new luxury BMW to his star-studded profile wrapped entirely in gold.
The Montreal resident says his new wheels have been causing him a lot of unwanted attention by Montreal police.
“It was the most ridiculous attempt of harassment that there was,” says Shapiro.
Last week over a four day period, Shapiro says cops pulled him over five times in Montreal’s St-Henri district.
The most recent event took place Sunday on Notre-Dame Street – a few blocks from a barbershop he also owns.
“They always ask me what I do, how’s your life ‘dans la rue,'” says Shapiro.
“I asked them, ‘what do you mean by ‘dans la rue?'”
Shapiro says police officers harrassed him and suggested he was a member of a street gang.
He adds his 4-year-old son was in the car at the time.
“If I was a criminal doing something illegal, probably the last thing I’d decide to do is drive a gold car,” he told Global News.
Race relations expert with the CRARR group, Fo Niemi, calls the officer’s conduct “unprofessional.”
“Police in Montreal have a problem dealing with people who don’t fit the certain standard images,” Niemi said.
Late Friday afternoon, Cmdr. Ian Lafreniere from the Montreal police reacted, stating they would like to meet with Shapiro.
“We want to get some answers, and we’ll see on our side see if there were mistakes,” he added.
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