Officer Arrested After Shooting and Standoff at Gym

Montreal police are investigating an incident involving one of their own officers who allegedly went into a local gym, barricaded himself in an office, took out his gun and began firing into the ceiling and walls.

Witnesses said the officer walked into Pro Gym, a 24-hour fitness centre, shortly after midnight on Tuesday and began acting erratically.

"The man had a gun that scared everyone inside," police spokesperson Const. Anie Lemieux said.

The officer, who is not a member of the gym, allegedly hopped on a treadmill in full police uniform and began jogging and talking to himself. Witnesses said he did this for about 10 minutes, during which time he also shouted at people in the club.

At one point he turned to an employee and, without being asked, said, "Look, I'm a calm guy, I never use my gun," gym manager Joe Maglione said.

"Right there, that's when the employee from the centre went to reception and goes, 'Hey, call the cops, this guy's not all there.'"

The officer, who apparently works at a police station across the street from the fitness club, barricaded himself in an office when police arrived. That's when he allegedly fired eight bullets into the ceiling and walls. He also began to destroy fitness equipment.

"He broke a glass door when he went in, he took dumbbells (and) he threw them against the windows, on mirrors. Look, this cop had a problem," Maglione said.

CTV Montreal showed video of the aftermath of the damage. Broken glass was strewn throughout the gym, mirrors were smashed, and there were bullet holes in the walls.

The four-hour standoff ended after police talked their colleague into opening the door. That's when police shot rubber bullets at the "incoherent" man, Lemieux said.

No one was seriously injured, and the 33-year-old man was taken to hospital for psychological testing. Police did not release any information about the officer's mental health or details about his tenure on the force.

Witnesses said the fact that he was a police officer didn't shock them.

"Just because he was a police officer doesn't make him special," one witness said. Another added, "The guy went crazy. It happens. Life goes on."


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