Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac flood victim charged after vehicle rams into community centre
Suspect charged with dangerous driving, assault with a weapon and mischief
A 38-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving, assault with a weapon and mischief after a car rammed into temporary offices providing services for flood victims in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que., Wednesday evening.
Jean-Francois Chenier was arrested at the community centre after the incident and appeared at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse Thursday.
Chenier spoke with CBC News in April, when he identified himself as a flood victim.
No one was injured in the incident, but the building was damaged after the car plowed through glass windows, coming to a stop inside the offices.
The vehicle "ended its path just short of the officers and staff that were inside the building at the time," said Lac des Deux-Montagnes police spokesperson Christopher Harding.
Police were called to the community centre where Quebec's Public Security Ministry and the Red Cross have their offices set up Wednesday at about 5:45 p.m. to respond to a man who was "irate," Harding said.
Police said the suspect was asked to leave, but he then got inside a vehicle and rammed it into the building.
The suspect had been to the offices several times before, police said.
"All evidence leads that this event was a deliberate act by this individual," Harding said.
The man was arrested and taken to hospital. He was later questioned by the Sûreté du Québec and underwent a psychiatric evaluation.
The building has been cordoned off as police work to conduct a reconstruction analysis of the incident.
In April, the dike protecting the community northwest of Montreal was breached, forcing thousands to evacuate. The construction of the dike decades ago allowed the former cottage country to more than double in size.
About 2,500 homes were damaged by the flooding.
Many homeowners say they were told their homes were not at risk of flooding because of the protection afforded by the dike.
Some residents have told the media they want to move, but they are frustrated over when and how they will be compensated for their ruined homes.
With files from Matt D'Amours