Black Montreal man wrongfully arrested, charged in cop attack says he was traumatized

MONTREAL — A Black Montreal man wrongfully arrested and accused of attempted murder of a police officer says he’s traumatized by the events that turned his life upside down in late January.

Mamadi Fara III Camara appeared Sunday on the popular Radio-Canada talk show, “Tout le monde en parle,” with his lawyer Virginie Dufresne-Lemire — his first interview since being exonerated.

Camara was arrested in late January in the city’s Parc Extension neighbourhood and charged with disarming and attempting to kill a police officer following a traffic stop, despite repeatedly proclaiming his innocence.

He was released after prosecutors said evidence had surfaced absolving him, and Montreal’s police chief apologized publicly and to him personally. No arrests have been made in the attack on the officer.

Camara told the program he wasn’t permitted to speak to his family while in detention and described a harrowing six days in jail awaiting the case to play out.

The government has ordered an independent investigation into the case, led by Quebec Superior Court Justice Louis Dionne, slated to begin Feb. 22.

This story by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2021.

The Canadian Press