Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
This week’s Denver Diatribe is all about things that go bump in the night:
Denver Comic Artists: We are joined by local graphic novel and Westword comic strip artist Noah Van Sciver, who discusses the area’s comic book scene and hist latest project, a biography of Lincoln’s depression.
Real Life Superheros: Are there genuine members of the Justice League amongst us? Like this guy?
Denver’s Spiderman: Don’t expect our Spiderman to swoop down and save you. More likely, he’ll slither from your attack to kill you.
Police Brutality Payouts: If a cop knocked you down coming home from the bar, or just walking the dog for that matter, what would you do with the incredibly cash compensation?
And, as always, we love and hate on things in Denver.
I’d use my money to attempt to repair my vision. I was pulled over by an aggressive Denver Police office (who had been disciplined in the past) for a minor speeding ticket. Because I didn’t hear what he was saying and got out of my car for clarification, I was cuffed, MANY (many more than necessary) backups were called. And I was taken to Denver Jail (my first and only time) for 24 hours. I have Ankylosing Spondilitis and accompanying Iritis. Because of Denver County’s refusal to give me my predisone eye drops (they were in my pocket) I now have permanent eye damage.
Thanks Denver Police!
OTTAWA — A Gatineau cop is facing charges under the Quebec Police Act following a shooting in 2008 in which a man was killed.
On June 29, 2011 — one day past the three-year anniversary of David Leclair’s death and just five days after the Leclair family launched a $430,000 civil suit against the officer and the city — the province’s police ethics commissioner charged Const. Pierre-Francois Blais with 10 counts under the act.
Though he remains on active duty, Blais was unreachable for comment Wednesday.
“It’ll never bring David back, it never should have happened to begin with,” Leclair’s sister, Donna, told QMI Agency Wednesday. She is still pressing for a public inquiry into her brother’s death.
A 35-year-old single father who was well-known to police, Leclair was shot three times outside his mother’s Gatineau, Que., home after Blais responded to a domestic complaint involving Leclair’s ex.
On the day of Leclair’s death, Blais had followed him into his mother’s home, beat him with a club and pepper-sprayed him before shooting him three times outside, including once in the back. Blais said LeClair grabbed a crowbar in the confrontation but witnesses say he was unarmed.
The officer also struck Leclair’s then 73-year-old mother, Dorothy, in the leg with his baton and, according to witnesses, threatened to shoot her and LeClair’s brother, Robert, if they intervened.
“Personally, I would love him to have jail time, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen at this point,” Donna said.
Blais, the son of chief justice of the Federal Court of Appeal Pierre Blais, was cleared in 2009 of any criminal wrongdoing after a provincial police investigation. He was also cleared of unlawful use of force and four other police act charges in April stemming from an unrelated domestic dispute in 2007.
The latest charges, which stem from a formal complaint filed to the police ethics commissioner, allege Blais acted carelessly and recklessly in his dealings with Leclair, used obscene or offensive language, displayed a lack of respect or courtesy, abused his authority, and violated Leclair’s Charter right to life, liberty and security of the person.
Blais is also charged with using excessive force against Leclair’s mother, Dorothy, along with four other charges.
“Will this bring us closure? I don’t know, but I hope it helps … Something is better than nothing right now,” Donna said. “We’ll see how it plays out.”
No hearing date has been set yet.