Montreal

No charges to be laid in Montreal North riot, police confirm

Montreal police are confirming that no one will be charged in connection with an April riot in Montreal North that damaged several cars and a police station.

April riot damaged cars, bank and police station

The Montreal police union complained that its members had been ordered not to intervene in the protest. (Radio-Canada)

No one will be charged in connection with an April riot in Montreal North that damaged several cars and a police station. 

Montreal police confirmed Friday that they closed the file on the protest that turned violent. They refused to provide further comment. 

The riot broke out following a peaceful vigil to denounce the death Bony Jean-Pierre, who died during a police raid in which almost a dozen people were arrested.   

Following the riot, the head of the police union said officers were given orders not to intervene, even as cars were being torched and bricks were being lobbed at Police Station 39.

A bank was also set ablaze.  

"Know that police officers did not at all appreciate the order to keep their arms crossed," Yves Francoeur, president of the Montreal Police Brotherhood, wrote in a letter to Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre at the time.

Montreal police chief Philippe Pichet has acknowledged the force opted to take a less visible approach in responding to the violence.