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Sûreté du Québec officer stabbed to death during arrest in Louiseville

Sgt. Maureen Breau was one of two officers arresting a man suspected of uttering threats, the BEI said.

Surete du Quebec flag at the entrance to the SQ headquarters in Montreal.
Surete du Quebec flag at the entrance to the SQ headquarters in Montreal. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

A Sûreté du Québec police sergeant has died after she was attacked with a knife Monday night by a man she and a colleague were arresting in Louiseville, in the Mauricie region, according to police.

Her assailant was later shot to death by one of the officers who had been called in as backup, police said.

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Another SQ officer was injured in the incident but their wounds are deemed not to be life threatening.

Quebec’s independent investigations office, BEI, has been assigned to investigate the incident, which occurred around 8:30 p.m.

According to the BEI, Sgt. Maureen Breau was one of two officers arresting a man suspected of uttering threats, the nature of which were not immediately disclosed. During the arrest and as he was being informed of his rights by the officers, the BEI reported that the 35-year-old suspect “grabbed a nearby knife” and fatally stabbed Breau.

One of two other officers who had been called in as backup opened fire on the suspect, striking him at least once, the BEI said.

In a statement, the SQ described Breau as a 20-year veteran of the force who had been assigned to work in the regional municipality (MRC) of Maskinongé.

“It is with immense sadness that I learned of the death of Sgt. Breau,” wrote SQ director Johanne Beausoleil in a message to the force’s personnel. “Such an ordeal reminds us of the dangers of the profession of police officers in the face of extreme situations such as that faced by Sgt. Breau, her police colleagues and the emergency communications staff who supported them during this operation.

“I offer my most sincere condolences to her spouse, her children, her family and her colleagues.”

Patrice Cardinal, the provincial force’s director of communications, said the SQ was in mourning and that “together, we will get through this and pay our respects to Maureen when the time comes.”

Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel wrote: “Today we are reminded that police do a dangerous and important job to ensure the safety of Quebecers.

“I can never thank them enough for their sacrifices.”

The BEI, which is called in to investigate any police operation in Quebec involving death or injury, has assigned five investigators to the case. Louiseville is about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

This story will be updated.