A Montreal-area man says he was the victim of an abusive arrest by Laval police that was caught on a video that went viral.
Laval police said they were called to the St-Vincent pool in Laval Sunday afternoon when Zakaria Sorhi refused to leave after being verbally agressive with a lifeguard who told him his Bermuda shorts were not regulation attire and that he had to change or leave. The man claims he asked police and the city about the shorts and they okayed it.
Spokesman Franco Di Genova said police tried to get the man to leave peacefully.
"Once again, (he was) verbally agressive and the gentleman refused. At this point, both officers negotiated separately, tried to negotiate with him. This lasted a few more minutes and at one point, they told him, you are under arrest," said Di Genova.
Sohri was arrested for obstruction. He also got a $150 ticket for disturbing the peace.
Sorhi told La Presse that afterwards, out of sight of cameras, police treated him roughly and told him, "We don't want garbage like you around here."
Di Genova said they can't comment on that because a complaint may be filed.