Quebec police forcefully subdue motorcyclist who routinely evaded traffic stops

A Surete du Quebec police car is seen at their headquarters in Montreal, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Provincial police in Quebec say officers had to use force to subdue the driver of a motorcycle who refused to stop on Highway 5 in Gatineau Sunday night.

According to the Sûreté du Québec, officers saw a motorcycle without a licence plate and with a worn tire being driven on Highway 5 near the St. Raymond exit at around 10 p.m. Police said when officers attempted to pull the driver over, he refused to stop and instead sped out of view.

The officers caught up to the driver, who appeared to be having mechanical problems, and tried to pull him over again. The driver kept going, turned off the highway in Chelsea and then drove back onto the highway. He repeated this manoeuvre again at the Wakefield exit, police said, before the motorcycle’s engine gave out and the driver stopped in a roundabout.

Police said the driver was uncooperative during the arrest and “physical force was used to subdue him,” according to a news release, translated from French. The Sûreté du Québec did not elaborate on how much force was used or whether the driver was injured.

The 29-year-old man from La Pêche who was arrested has since been released on a promise to appear in court. He could be facing charges of fleeing police, obstructing a peace officer, and breaching conditions, police said.

His motorcycle has been impounded for 30 days, and he was also given a $520 fine.