Kenrick McRae, a Black man from Montreal, has lodged his fifth police ethics complaint following what he describes as an unjustified traffic stop by the Montreal police (SPVM).
On October 11, McRae was pulled over by SPVM officers who claimed his brake light was not functioning. However, video evidence captured by McRae showed that his center brake light was in working order.
Despite this, the officers proceeded to conduct a search of McRae’s vehicle without a warrant. They seized a medical neck and upper-back brace, insinuating it was contraband. McRae was then issued a $186 ticket under section 221 of the Highway Safety Code.
Expressing his frustration, McRae stated, “This is the kind of humiliation I have to endure as a citizen and taxpayer in this region.” He disclosed that he has been stopped three to five times monthly over the past eight years and no longer feels safe driving in Montreal.
In a press conference, Joel de Bellefeuille, the founder and executive director of the Red Coalition, denounced the incident as part of a systemic issue affecting Black and racialized drivers in Montreal. Alain Babineau, the director of racial profiling and public safety for the coalition, highlighted the recurring pattern of baseless stops and invasive searches by the SPVM.
Emphasizing the necessity of police body cameras for accountability in modern policing, Babineau stressed that no resident should live in constant fear while simply driving to work or running errands.
In response, Montreal police stated that they do not comment on specific incidents but encourage individuals who feel mistreated to file complaints. The SPVM clarified that the stops were related to traffic-code infractions and not discretionary interventions. They referred to their updated policy on police stops, issued earlier this year.
McRae has lodged two complaints on his behalf—one to the Police Ethics Commission and another to the Quebec Human Rights Commission, seeking redress for discriminatory treatment.
