A Night Out Turned Into a Nightmare

The events dates back to June 25, 2022, at the well-known downtown dance club, Chez Parée. Charly Say, a man of Asian origin, was spending a quiet evening in the VIP section with his partner, Alexandra Ouellet-Tapp, who was on maternity leave at the time.

The atmosphere shifted when officers from the SPVM’s “Eclipse” squad—a unit that routinely patrols downtown bars—entered the establishment. According to testimony, Officer Paquette approached Mr. Say with an air of arrogance, immediately addressing him as if he were “the boss of the place” and treating him with suspicion.

“I felt powerless and threatened. I decided to raise my hands because I knew I was going to get in trouble. I was afraid,” testified Charly Say during the proceedings.

The Violent Encounter and Evidence

Witnesses and surveillance footage paint a disturbing picture of the interaction. Despite Mr. Say raising his hands to signal non-aggression and avoid any misunderstandings, the situation escalated violently. The evidence presented in court suggests that:

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• Officer Paquette allegedly grabbed Mr. Say by his hair.
• The victim was violently projected to the ground.
• The force used was described by Ms. Ouellet-Tapp as if her partner were being thrown “like a rag.”

The surveillance videos, which the defence has contested regarding authenticity, clearly show the officer seizing the man by a ponytail and slamming him onto the floor, while the victim appeared to be making no threatening gestures.

Serious Legal Charges

The Crown’s theory is that Officer Paquette had no legal reason to intervene in the first place. Consequently, the officer is facing a string of severe charges, including:

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• Assault: For the physical violence inflicted on Mr. Say.
• Fabrication of Evidence: Allegedly creating a false report to accuse the victim of assaulting a police officer.
• Obstruction of Justice & Public Mischief: For launching a fraudulent police investigation.
• Prevarication: A rare charge involving the failure of a public official to perform their duty honestly.

A Demand for Accountability

Beyond the physical assault, the trial has highlighted the emotional trauma and the fear of racial profiling. The victim’s partner also reported being pushed by officers during the incident, leading to a knee injury, and claimed she was dismissed as “hysterical” after informing officers she was pregnant.

As the legal process continues before Judge Thomas Jacques, the community remains focused on whether the SPVM will be held accountable for these actions, ensuring that the rights of all Montreal citizens are protected regardless of their origin.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the Montreal justice system weighs the evidence of one of the city’s most controversial police misconduct cases.