Arresting officer says Bain was ready to shoot him

CTV Montreal: SQ officers at Bain trial Two Surete du Quebec officers took the stand to describe their confrontation with Richard Bain outside Metropolis.

Two Sureté du Quebec officers who confronted suspected Metropolis shooter Richard Bain testified Wednesday at his murder trial.

Sgt. Stephane Champagne and Investigator Jean-Marc Rochon testified how they risked their own lives, had a gun pointed at them, and that their quick intervention might have prevented a bloodbath that night.

Champagne has been a Sureté du Quebec officer since 1999, and on the election night of Sept. 4 2012, he was working on the ground floor of the Metropolis to watch for security threats.

In court he testified that just before midnight, he heard a call on his earpiece that a shot had been fired.

He drew his firearm, then went to the back of the club at which point, he heard a second call about a gunshot.

Champagne described how he opened the door and had to wait a moment to adjust his vision, at which point he saw a man wearing what looked like a blue cape and a ski mask.

Champagne said he screamed "Police!" at the man, whom he later identified as Richard Bain, at which point Bain lit a flare and tossed it at a stairwell.

“"I had my gun in my hands... we began chasing him. My partner Jean-Marc yelled, ‘Don't move!’ But the individual took off,” Champagne testified.

Champagne said he and Rochon then ran at the man, chasing him around a corner, at which point Bain turned around and pointed a handgun at Champagne from just over one metre away.

“I was about to jump him, but he suddenly turned towards me.  He had something in his right hand. It was a pistol that he was pointing in my direction,” said Champagne.

Champagne said he acted on instinct and jumped on Bain's left hand, hoping he would drop the pistol.

Champagne and Rochon then put Bain on the ground and moved his hands behind his back to handcuff him.

As they did this Bain's pistol fell on the ground, and Champagne spotted not only the fire at Metropolis, but the assault rifle lying a short distance away.

Champagne said he told Bain, in French, that he was under arrest for possessing a prohibited weapon, and Bain replied that he understood.

The SQ officer then testified that he left Bain in the care of his partner and Montreal police officers, and looked around to see shooting victim Denis Blanchette lying next to a blue dumpster being attended to by a police officer.

The court also heard from CBC cameraman Martin Bouffard Wednesday, who happened to be there when the tragedy took place.

Bouffard explained to the court that despite the danger, he rushed to the back of the Metropolis where he saw a fire and Bain being dragged away, screaming ‘The Anglos are awakening.’

The trial continues Thursday.