"Wrong colour, wrong place, wrong time."
from the July 12th, 2007 edition of the Hour.
by
Jamie O'Meara
The seventh day of the seventh month of this year - 07/07/07 - wasn't so lucky for at least one young, black Montreal man. In a case of what he says was "wrong colour, wrong place, wrong time," 27-year-old Granville Miller alleges that he was "viciously attacked" by four Montreal police officers in the early morning hours last Saturday while on his way home from a club downtown.
In an email sent to various media outlets, Miller claimed the following:
"Walking home with one of my buddies after what seemed like the perfect evening out, we came across an altercation on Ste-Catherine Street near Beaudry. It seemed to be some sort of a brawl, police were involved. We slowly make our way past it when we are suddenly confronted by some of the brawlers. They mistake us for being part of the rival camp or whatnot. We try to brush them away but they are reluctant. One started to push me so I shoved him away expecting the cops to take control of these clearly intoxicated and dangerous individuals. Much to my surprise, I was the one police jumped on and viciously attacked...
"I tried to verbally explain that I had nothing to do with the people in my surroundings, that I was trying to get home. The attempt was met with a tightened grip and another punch on the ear. 'Ta yeul esti' was [the police officer's] response. I just stood there waiting for them to finish roughing me up...
"Once they let me go, I wanted one last chance to tell them that they falsely attacked me. That I was innocent. I also wanted
to give them the chance to apologize. My attempt was met with a threat to arrest me and a show of handcuffs."
At this point Miller says he then called 911 for assistance. He says he filed a complaint at the desk and was told that he would receive a call from the "chief." Miller says he remained on the scene and a short while later another police officer arrived on scene, identifying himself as "le chef." He then alleges that, following another rudely rebutted attempt at redress, the officers became threatening again.
"Suddenly all five are in front of us. They're laughing at us. Moving in closer. Not good. One more call to 911/police station. One last effort at seeking justice. I explain to them that the chief from that station is right in front of me laughing at recent abusive treatment. The cops decide to leave while I'm on the line with the station. I guess they figured they can't further aggress me while I'm on the phone. The agent on the phone tells me some other chief will contact me."
Has anyone tried to call you back since the incident? "No," says Miller four days later. (As of press time, numerous attempts to reach Montreal police for comment were met with a busy signal - either someone left the phone off the hook down at media relations, or that was one hell of a long phone call.)
In the interim, Miller says he has gotten a medical record supporting his claims of injury and filed a complaint with the Commissaire à la déontologie policière (Police Ethics Commissioner). "I also sent emails to the Black Coalition and the Coalition Against Police Brutality."
Miller, a graphic designer who is returning to do a graduate certificate at UQÀM in September, insists he's just not the kind of person who gets into situations like these.
"In no way did I instigate anything or was I roughhousing or anything to that effect. I don't give off that kind of vibe or impression." He acknowledges having been out at a club, but maintains, "I wasn't out of my mind or going crazy or anything."
For his part, Miller is convinced that race figured prominently in the alleged attack. "I think so, unless he's just a sociopath," he says. "I definitely saw some hatred in his eyes. I'm a young male and black, which certainly doesn't help. It's funny, I told his partner that I felt there was some sort of discrimination, and he said, 'Oh, that's impossible, he's gay.' So that's kind of [odd] in retrospect."
Miller says, however, that despite his experience - he is still feeling pain in his neck where restraint was applied, and in his ear where he was punched - he is not currently contemplating charges against the officer or officers involved.
"No, that's not my intention. What I would like is an admission of wrongdoing and use of excessive force. And an apology would be nice," he adds in a tone that suggests he's not expecting one any time soon. "But it's not my intention to drag this thing out in court or gain any money out of this.
"What I do want is for people to know that it happened, and that it still happens frequently, and that it's completely outrageous."
