News Releases

Quebec Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAINTE-ANNE-DES-PLAINES, QC, April 23, 2005 - At around 7:05 p.m. on April 23, 2005, two inmates at Archambault Institution took a staff member hostage. The inmates in question were Marcel Coté, serving a sentence of 14 years and 3 months that started in 1998, and Richard Dallaire, serving a life sentence that started in 1984.

The penitentiary's Emergency Response Team was immediately called to the scene and negotiations were initiated with the hostage takers.

All emergency procedures were put in place to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

At 10:33 p.m. the inmates released the hostage, who was not injured and is in good condition.

The inmates were transferred to a facility that holds the required security level.

Employee assistance measures were implemented.

The Correctional Service of Canada and Sûreté du Québec will conduct an investigation into this incident.

CSC monitors and reviews all security incidents to ensure that it is taking the best measures possible with the aim of preventing and mitigating such incidents.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Ninon Paquette
Acting Warden
(450) 478-5960 ext. 8101

or

David Lévesque
(514) 331-6100, pager #1626