Warning: This article contains details of an alleged sexual assault.
A Montreal police officer who was charged with sexual assault following an independent investigation by the province’s police watchdog was acquitted Wednesday by a Quebec court judge.
Roger Frechette was facing a sexual assault charge against an Ontario woman who was visiting Montreal in February 2019 and whose identity is protected by a publication ban.
Frechette was the first police officer to be charged following an independent investigation by the Quebec police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes.
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Judge Lori Renee Weitzman ruled that Frechette’s version of events was “totally unbelievable,” but said she could not tell from the woman’s version, which included some contradictions and a lack of clear memories, what had happened.
The woman had come to Montreal with her then-boyfriend for a Valentine’s weekend when they were arrested downtown after they started arguing on the street after a night of drinking. Both were arrested.
That’s where Frechette, a detention officer, met the woman.
The woman, who had spent that night in police custody, stated that after being released the next morning, Frechette, who had completed her work shift, insisted on taking her back to her hotel. She said the officer followed her to her room and allegedly touched her, licked her neck, grabbed her private parts and forced her to put his hand on her crotch.
He also told the court that he suffered post-traumatic stress before his 2019 arrest in Montreal and said he did not recall specific conversations with Frechette or the sequence of events in the hotel room.
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Frechette said in his defense that he was only trying to help the woman, whom he said he did not know, by taking her back to his hotel, adding that he was the one who was groped. The 34-year-old veteran police officer, who had spent a decade supervising cells at a central Montreal detention center, said at trial that it was the first time he had accompanied a detainee home after his shift.
Weitzman said in his 18-page ruling that “there is no question” that the woman had a bad experience on February 18, 2019, “and the court understands her frustration at not being able to trust her memory of the events.”
“However, her version of events is not reliable enough to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that she was sexually assaulted by Mr. Frechette.”
If you or someone you know is being abused or involved in an abusive situation, visit the Canadian Crime Victims Resource Center for help. They are also available free of charge at 1-877-232-2610.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
Reference-globalnews.ca