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A black man in Montreal, Canada, is now sharing his story on how he invited cops into his home and ended up bloodied and restrained as tensions remain high across the United States, Canada and other countries over the death of George Floyd.
Lloys Chatel-Elie said he wants to publicize the incident, which happened back in late April, because he got inspired by the recent Black Lives Matter protests, as per CTV News on June 11.
Chatel-Elie said the incident reminded him of how he feels that he is “in danger” when interacting with the officers of the Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM).
He is now also sharing a video of the incident to show people what it is like to “not feel safe,” according to the report.
“I was under no obligation to let them in my house, but I did so by wanting to collaborate with them and to show good faith,” he was quoted as saying.
“I felt betrayed and abused by them. No collaboration on their part, they just want to intimidate us and show that they have authority. When I see the Montreal police, I do not feel safe at all but rather threatened,” he added.
It all started when police came to Chatel-Elie’s apartment one night, allegedly responding to what he said was a mysterious complaint about a loud party being held at his apartment, the report said.
Chatel-Elie said he was in fact alone with his girlfriend at the apartment, as shown by the footage. After showing the cops that no party was happening inside his home, he asked them to leave, but the police declined.
He said he asked multiple times and “lightly touched” one of the officers once to show them the way out, but this seemed to have agitated the police, who then decided to restrain him.
Chatel-Elie and his girlfriend were also able to capture on film his being taken down by police inside his home.
He was then escorted outside in handcuffs, suffering from a head injury and a busted lip. He said he was also left at the back of the police car for about an hour before the officers called an ambulance.
Chatel-Elie said he believes the police acted that way because of his skin color, noting that that was not the first time he felt discriminated against by cops, but it was the first incident caught on video.
His lawyer, Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, noted that the police did not have a warrant and was only allowed inside her client’s home because they were invited.
“He didn’t have to say yes—he wanted to show he was collaborating with the police officers, but when you give your consent, you’re allowed also to take it back,” she was quoted as saying.
The lawyer said Chatel-Elie is now considering taking legal action over the incident. Ian Biong /ra
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