Driver now charged with attempted murder

A public danger who allegedly grabbed a police officer on a motorcycle who wanted to intercept him is now accused of attempted murder, in addition to having had a string of drugs in his car for the purpose of trafficking.

• Read also: Public danger accused of grabbing a police officer and fleeing the scene

• Read also: An SQ policeman hit by a motorist while trying to intercept a vehicle in Montreal

For a second time in 10 days, Christopher Desrosiers appeared Wednesday at the Montreal courthouse. But if he was already risking a lot, his case got worse with the filing of new charges which could lead to a very long incarceration.

Because after 11 days of investigation which involves among others a reconstructionist, the Montreal police have collected enough evidence to prove that the 27-year-old man did indeed commit an attempted murder on 1^er last May against agent Mickael Cherrier.

That day, the police were carrying out a radar operation in the Rivière-des-Prairies sector in Montreal. Desrosiers, who was driving over the legal limit, was intercepted, but he reportedly refused to stop.

Agent Cherrier of the Sûreté du Québec therefore chased him into a cul-de-sac. It was at this moment that the driver would have made a U-turn to rush on the policeman before fleeing.

Recognized by a policewoman

Desrosiers was finally arrested in the evening, after being spotted by a police officer who was not on duty and who followed him to his home on the South Shore.

He was charged with dangerous driving, aggravated and armed assault [son véhicule] against a police officer of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), of having fled the police, as well as of a hit-and-run causing injury. Agent Cherrier suffered numerous fractures in both legs and ribs, in addition to having his lung punctured, but he is out of danger and has since recovered.

For the Crown, it was out of the question that Desrosiers could be released pending trial. Especially since the driver drags an impressive number of violations of the Highway Safety Code, ranging from speeding, refusal to comply, or driving without a license or during a ban.

Over $4,000 in fines

He has accumulated around forty statements of offense and, in the last two years alone, he has been fined more than $4,000.

With the new charges of attempted murder and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking [crack, cocaïne, métamphétamines et cannabis]Desrosiers’ hope of being released has dimmed a little more.

However, he will try his luck in front of a judge next week.

The day after the events, the director general of the SQ, Johanne Beausoleil, had deplored the crime, while saying she was “proud” of the work done “by our police officers day after day”.