'Shocking' police video appears to show 'excessive use of force,' Montreal mayor says

Mayor Valrie Plante says the police intervention captured in a video circulating online of a young man being lifted off the ground and thrust feet first into a police cruiser has "the appearance of use of excessive force."

"Like many Montrealers, I was quite shocked," she told CBC at city hall.

"Of course, it's only a piece of the puzzle. We don't know the whole story of what happened. But at this point, I've definitely got to say there's definitely the appearance of use ofexcessive force. And I am not comfortable with that as mayor."

Plante said she trusts the internal human resources protocol within the Montreal police force, butshe expects to get answers about what exactly happened.

She added that all Montrealers should be able to feel safe in the hands of police.

Watch the video below:

Montreal police arrest captured on film

5 years ago

Duration 1:45

This video was submitted by Jahmensky Lubin whose voice can be heard on the tape.

The cellphone video, filmed outside Henri-Bourassa Metro just after 5 a.m. Monday, shows a handcuffed young man being thrust to the ground by anofficer.

The male officer then lifts upthe young manand throws him in the back of the police cruiser, feet first.

CBC News has been unable to determine the young man's identity or his age.

A server at a nearby bar told CBC News police were calledafter a patron alerted them to suspicious activity in the parking garage next door.

No comment from police

In a statement, Montreal police said Tuesday thatthey can't comment on the incident since it's under "analysis." They did not respond to another request for comment Wednesday.

Montreal's police brotherhood,the union representing the city's officers, told CBC in a statement that "without knowing the whole circumstances of an event, it's impossible to develop an informed opinion."

The union also declined to be interviewed.

Municipal opposition leader Lionel Perez tweeted in response to Plante's comments, saying that "actions speak louder than words."

He criticized Plantefor voting againstan independent inquiry when a video surfaced in March showing21-year-old Juliano Graybeing handled roughlyby STM inspectors.

Thatvideo shows inspectors restraining Gray on the platform, his head centimetres away from an oncoming train, as he squirms, screamsand getssmacked with metal.

"It was brutal and excessive force," Gray said at the time.

Perez's party pushed for an inquiry into the incident but it never happened.