News Releases

Quebec Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAVAL, QC, February 2, 2007 - On February 1, 2007, Stéphane Béland, an inmate at the Federal Training Centre, a federal minimum-security penitentiary located in Laval, escaped at around 7 p.m. from the place he had been authorized to visit in the evening on a group temporary absence.

Police were informed immediately and the Correctional Service of Canada provided them with all relevant information that might lead to the apprehension of the individual as soon as possible.

Stéphane Béland, 38 years of age, has been serving a sentence of two years and eight months for robbery since July 21, 2006. He is a white male with blue-green eyes and light brown hair. He is 5'11" (180 cm) tall, weighs 212 lbs (96 kg) and has a scar on his chin as well as a tattoo on his left arm.

The Correctional Service of Canada will conduct an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this event.

The authorities at the Federal Training Centre are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the toll-free phone number at 1-866-231-6495. Such information is treated with confidentiality, and a security intelligence officer will provide follow-up.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Monique Marullo
Assistant Warden, Management Services
450-661-7786, ext. 4400