Arrested on a night out, Black teen accuses Montreal police of racial profiling

Since attending a rap festival in May, 18-year-old Shayheid Douglas says he's been stopped by police on several different occasions and asked for identification.

But in the early hours of June 29, Douglas, who is Black, wasn't just asked for his ID. 

That morning, Douglas says he and some friends were walking home from a bar when SPVM officers — the same ones who stopped him the first time at the music festival — pushed him against the glass of a shop window, handcuffed him and put him in the back of a police cruiser.

"They were holding me against my will, and I felt very uncomfortable with them aggressively handling me. I told them I was about to have a panic attack, and they didn't care," said Douglas.

According to Douglas, the officers told him there was a warrant for his arrest, but about 30 minutes later, he was released without charges.

Now Douglas — who does not have a criminal record — is accusing the force of racial profiling and harassment and preparing to file a complaint with the police ethics commission.

"I'm not a criminal," said Douglas. "Everywhere I go, I have to worry about the cops. I have to take out my phone all the time, and I don't wanna take out my phone all the time. I want to be able to have fun without any problems with the police."

A friend of Douglas caught the arrest on video.

Based on a video that was provided to CBC by the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), some of the officers are from Groupe Éclipse, a police anti-gang squad.

Talea Francis, Douglas's mother, said she now fears for her son's safety.

"[The police] are here to protect and serve, and I don't feel like they're protecting our minority youth," said Francis.

Along with the impact on Douglas's ability to travel and work, Francis said she's also worried about the damage her son's reputation may suffer after he was treated like a criminal.

"Something has to change. My son works a nine-to-five [job] just like these officers. He deserves to go out on the weekend any day and enjoy the fruits of his labour."

On behalf of Douglas and his family, CRARR said it will be filing a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission as well as the police ethics commissioner.