Sunday, September 21, 2008

Youths Rampage After Arrest

From The Montreal Gazette:

North End Curb violence with community involvement, leaders say

Teenagers in the north end of Montreal went on a binge of bottle-throwing and vandalism early yesterday after watching police arrest one of their friends outside a dance club.

But after yet another night of violent protest against police, many leaders in the area are hoping community involvement is the key to settling the tension between youth and law enforcement.

At 2 a.m., about 60 young people lashed out against police as they arrested a man for parole violation on Jean Talon St. near Pie IX Blvd. in St. Léonard, near the boundary of St. Michel.

The man, known to police as a gang member, had been refused entry into the Q2 youth night club on Jean Talon, where about 200 youths between the ages of 14 and 18 were dancing, socializing and, as the owner put it, "keeping out of trouble." The trouble erupted outside at closing time, when police recognized the gang member and arrested him in front of a large group of people. Within minutes, police said, dozens of youths became violent, throwing glass bottles, damaging two police cars, a store window and a nearby bus shelter.

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