Former jail manager charged in 2022 death of 21-year-old inmate

A 54-year-old man has been arrested in the death of Nicous D'Andre Spring, 21, who was killed in Bordeaux jail in 2023.

Sébastien Bossé, 54, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the 2022 death of Nicous D’André Spring.

The 21-year-old was severely injured on Christmas Eve when correctional officers at the Bordeaux jail put him in a spit hood after an altercation with another inmate.

They then pepper-sprayed him twice while still wearing the head covering.

Spring was rushed to hospital and died of his injuries the next day.

After appearing at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday, Bossé was released and is expected to appear in court at a later date.

The province confirmed Friday that Bossé had been the head of a unit at the jail at the time of Spring’s death, and was removed from his duties in December 2022. 

Sarafina Dennie, Spring’s sister, said the arrest is long-overdue in a statement issued through her lawyer.

“For almost three years, we’ve cried, waited, fought, and demanded the truth. This arrest doesn’t erase the pain, but it shows that Nicous’s life mattered and still matters. He was more than an inmate. He was a son, a brother, an uncle a human being with dreams, and a heart full of love,” she said.

She added that the family wants to see “full justice,” with a trial resulting in a conviction and accountability for all who had a role in her brother’s death.

Spring’s family, the Red Coalition and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association had demanded an inquiry into systemic racism in the provincial detention system after his death.

Quebec’s chief coroner ordered a public inquiry to provide answers to the many unanswered questions the family had around Spring’s death, which has yet to begin. The Public Security Department had also said it would investigate.

In January 2023, the head of the union representing guards at Bordeaux said they put a spit hood over Spring’s face because saliva was being directed toward guards when he spoke. He also said pepper spray was used because he allegedly did not calm down.

Quebec’s public safety ministry confirmed in 2023 that Spring had been unlawfully detained as he was supposed to be released from custody on Dec. 23.

He was still in jail on the day of the Dec. 24 intervention, despite a judge authorizing his release.

Montreal police arrested Spring on Dec. 20, 2022, on charges of assaulting a peace officer, criminal harassment and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

He was also facing two counts of breach of a condition of release.

He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Red Coalition said Spring’s death was a result of “systemic negligence, poor oversight, and a lack of humanity within a system that too often views Black lives as disposable,” in a news release Friday.

With files from The Canadian Press