A municipal court judge concluded that Montreal police officers racially profiled a Black lawyer during a traffic stop in 2021.
“I was relieved that someone actually heard what happened and actually believed me,” said Kwadwo Yeboah.
In January 2021, Yeboah was pulled over near Chinatown by the police. He was accused of allegedly using his cell phone while driving and using a fake driver’s license. He was handcuffed and placed in a police cruiser while officers searched his belongings. He was ultimately released with a $400 ticket for the alleged phone use while driving.
His then 15-year-old daughter, who was with him, captured part of the incident on camera.
“They came and said also that I got out my car abruptly, they feared for their life, my fists was closed, I was agitated and everything like that, which was completely false,” said Yeboah.
Court documents show that police gathered video evidence, as one of the officers was wearing a personal body camera during part of the traffic stop but failed to include it in her report.
Additionally, police gathered video surveillance from a nearby hotel as well, but that footage was never reported.
During the court ruling, Yeboah said he couldn’t help but get emotional.
“I’m not a very emotional person but I had to work very hard not to not shed a few tears.”
After the 2021 incident, Yeboah filed complaints with the Quebec’s police watchdog, Commissaire à la déontologie policière, and the province’s human rights commission.
However, he says Quebec’s police watchdog dismissed his complaint. He filed an appeal, but they dismissed that too.
Joel DeBellefeuille, founder of Red Coalition, says racial profiling is a systemic issue in Quebec and that their office receives around four to five calls a day regarding racial profiling.
“The problem exists with the fact that this current government denies the existence of systemic racism,” said DeBellefeuille.
Adding, “There needs to be tougher sanctions, better reviews, obviously, the process needs to be handled properly in order for these officers to be punished and…learn from their mistakes.”
Yeboah also filed a civil lawsuit against the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) and the City of Montreal, seeking $125,000 in damages, but is currently waiting for a court date to be set.
Yeboah believes the court ruling might have an impact on what the SPVM and the City of Montreal plan to do, hinting at a possible settlement.
In a statement to CityNews, Montreal police writes in part, “As with any other judicial matter, there is a 30-day period to appeal a decision. We will take the time to analyze this decision and allow the judicial process to run its course.”
The City of Montreal denied to comment as its legal affairs department is analyzing the decision.
“A simple traffic stop shouldn’t have ended this way,” said Yeboah.