MASCouche, Que. — A provincial disciplinary tribunal has concluded that two officers of the Sûreté du Québec discriminated against a Black man during a traffic stop in Mascouche on Dec. 4, 2020.
The Tribunal administratif de déontologie policière rendered its decision on June 5 and the case was reported publicly in August. The tribunal found that Sgt. Simon Deveault-Bonenfant and officer François Bleau-Goulet subjected Leslie Blot to treatment that amounted to racial profiling.
Video evidence central to ruling
Blot, who told CityNews he had just left his mother’s grave when he was pulled over, began recording the interaction because he feared for his safety. The tribunal said the recording was decisive in establishing the officers’ conduct.
“When you have someone in front of you that was supposed to protect you and insults you like that, treats you like a child,” Blot told CityNews, “you feel like less than nothing.”
According to the tribunal’s written decision, the officers initially asked to verify Blot’s driver’s licence. Their subsequent explanations for the stop included suggestions that the vehicle might be stolen, that Blot had a criminal record, and comments about the number and appearance of bags in the car. The contents, the decision notes, were personal religious items — a candle, incense and holy water contained in an object shaped like the Virgin Mary — that Blot had brought from the cemetery.
Findings and immediate outcomes
The tribunal found the search of Blot’s belongings to be improper and abusive. During the encounter the officers mocked him at times; the recording captures one of the officers calling him a “drama queen” while Blot searched for a licence he had left in another jacket. After the interaction, Blot received a fine for lacking winter tyres and the officers ordered his vehicle to be towed.
Justice Isabelle Côté, writing for the tribunal, said in the decision that “virtually all circumstances surrounding the stop pointed to racial profiling,” language that underscores the strength of the tribunal’s conclusion.
Local context and wider implications
This ruling arrives amid long-standing concerns in Quebec and across Canada about racial profiling by police and the unequal treatment of racialized communities. The tribunal’s finding adds to a record of administrative and court decisions that scrutinize stops where officers’ reasons for intervention are questioned.
For residents of Mascouche and surrounding communities, the case underlines the role that video recordings and citizen evidence increasingly play in accountability processes. The recording in this case materially shaped the tribunal’s understanding of what occurred in the minutes after the stop.
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 4, 2020 | Traffic stop in Mascouche; Leslie Blot records interaction |
| June 5, 2026 | Tribunal rendered decision finding discrimination |
| Aug. 15, 2026 | Decision reported publicly |
What this means for residents
The decision does not by itself change policing policy but it does carry disciplinary and reputational consequences for the officers involved and contributes to precedent in police-deontology matters. It also offers a clear reminder to Quebecers that encounters with police can and should be reviewed through administrative channels when there are allegations of bias.
- Evidence: The tribunal relied heavily on a bystander recording made by the person stopped.
- Allegations: The officers suggested the vehicle might be stolen, referenced a criminal record and commented on the bags in the car.
- Outcome: The search was judged illegal and abusive; the tribunal declared the stop was marked by racial profiling.
As administrative bodies and police services respond to decisions such as this, affected individuals and communities continue to press for clearer rules, training and oversight to prevent discriminatory stops. The tribunal’s written reasons now provide an official account of the encounter that will be cited in discussions about police conduct and accountability in Quebec.
Reporting for WE NEWS, this account draws on the tribunal decision and statements given to CityNews by the person stopped. No additional disciplinary measures or appeals associated with the tribunal's decision were detailed in the materials available at the time of reporting.
