Death of a homeless person in Gatineau: the coroner and the police will investigate

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The police was more present around the Robert-Guertin Center on Friday morning. (Archive photo)

• Charles Lalande (View profile)Charles Lalande

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The Police Department of the City of Gatineau (SPVG) and the coroner will conduct a “joint” investigation to shed light on the death of a homeless person in the encampment located near the Robert-Guertin Center.

The coroner and police will conduct a joint investigation. When the police initially intervene [on the scene], the police call the coroner and that's where the decision is made, explained public relations agent Patrick Kenney in an interview with Radio-Canada on Friday morning.

< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">Given the coroner's involvement, we are very limited in the information we can share, he added, so it is impossible to have further details, such as age or the name of the man who was found dead.

Patrick Kenney, spokesperson for the Gatineau Police Department

Agent Kenney nevertheless assured that all scenarios would be explored , but for the moment it is too early for there to be any question of an overdose or elements of a criminal nature, he insisted.

Thursday afternoon, paramedics and police officers were quickly dispatched to the scene. Friday morning, they were no longer present for the investigation. The spokesperson explained that this means that the police have identified all the necessary elements.

The investigation at the scene has been completed, but it is continues in the offices with, among other things, analysis, he indicated.

The man was found lifeless Thursday in a tent at the Guertin camp in Gatineau. (File photo)

As for the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Outaouais, workers are still on site, as was the case Thursday evening, to provide psychosocial support to those who need it, indicated a spokesperson by email.

The death of this itinerant is tragic and very sad, reacted the CISSS de l' Outaouais, who added that other homeless people who were around the deceased are greatly affected.

The death of a homeless person at the camp has shaken several others people who lived near him.

One of them, Carol Beauchamp, was very emotional on Friday when he agreed to speak to Radio-Canada. With winter approaching, he is worried about seeing the number of homeless people increasing in the area.

I'm afraid for them . They have never been homeless in their lives and they are not equipped. […] There are fewer services, but there are more needs than before. It doesn't make any sense! he exclaimed.

Located less than 100 meters from the homeless encampment, Island High School has taken steps to ensure the safety of its students by hiring more security guards, said a spokesperson for the Service Center school of Portages-de-l'Outaouais (CSSPO) Friday morning.

In addition, in conjunction with the City of Gatineau, a stronger police presence is ensured on cycle paths and around the school and social workers are deployed on the ground, added the CSSPO which has already expressed its concern for the safety of students and staff.

The spokesperson assured that resources are available at the school if students feel the need to speak or to denounce a situation.

For its part, the SPVG mentioned that it did not intend to increase the police presence around the former Gatineau Olympic arena given that it has already been monitoring the area for several months. p>

Our police officers already do patrols on a very regular basis. There are also specialized teams which are omnipresent. I don't think that's going to change, because we're already there quite frequently, Mr. Kenney replied.

With the information by Frédéric Pepin

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