Quebec police arrest 2 people and fine 6 for violating Covid-19 closing restrictions during a party for 7 people

One man is expected to stand trial on charges of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, Gatineau police spokeswoman Mariane Leduc said Sunday.

A woman was also arrested for refusing to identify herself, but she was released as soon as she complied, Leduc said. Police said it is possible the woman may be on trial.

Two officers responded to a home in Gatineau around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night after receiving a complaint about a party, Leduc said.

She said two women answered the door and refused to cooperate with officers. Leduc said they could not provide proof of identity.

There were six adults and one child in the home at the time, but the current Covid-19 restrictions on Quebec prohibit such gatherings. Leduc said that someone who lives alone may join another family or receive at most one family member for the holidays.

A video taken by someone else in the house was posted on Twitter on Friday showing officers in a confrontation with a man in the doorway. Screams can be heard in the background.

It can be seen that another man who was inside the house is trying to stop the man from being taken outside.

Canadians are encouraged to stay home as Covid-19's second wave worsens

Later in the video, officers are seen holding the man outside the house physically while back officers show up and continue talking to some women in the house.

Gatineau police tweeted Saturday that the video shows only part of the incident where a man was taken out of the house and that ‘the individuals were rebellious and refused to cooperate.’ Police said the person arrested in the video assaulted a police officer and punched him several times in the face.

CNN’s news partner CBC reported on Saturday that the video was posted by Mathieu Tessier, the man arrested. Tessier told CBC that he believes police used excessive force. He denies assaulting an officer.

Tessier admitted to CBC that they took a risk by holding a holiday gathering, but believed that if the authorities were called, they would only receive a warning and a polite request to break up the party. “The police can not do what they did to us. They treat us like animals, like criminals,” Tessier said.

Leduc said six adults each were fined at least $ 1,000 (1,546 Canadian dollars) for violating a public health law.

According to her, the man who was arrested allegedly ‘charged’ and one of the officers entered the house.

No one was injured during the quarrel, and everyone was released at the scene after they calmed down, Leduc said.

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