A man in his 40s has been arrested and is due to appear this afternoon in connection with a new attack targeting entrepreneur Olivier Primeau’s pizzeria overnight from Thursday to Friday. The file was transferred to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), since the two attacks targeting the establishment could have a link with organized crime.
According to our information, at the time of writing these lines, the SQ was unable to make any connection with a potential sponsor. According to our information, however, the alleged arsonist arrested last night in Sainte-Thérèse would have links with street gangs.
This is Jean-Richard Émile, considered by the police to be a gang member. The 40-year-old is due to appear this afternoon in connection with the arson.
According to our sources, Olivier Primeau’s property would be subject to special surveillance by local police forces.
This is the second time this week that the Sainte-Thérèse establishment has been vandalized, a few days after the businessman’s Laval condo was targeted by gunfire.
In both cases, these are fire attempts that did not cause any injuries. The windows and facade of the establishment were slightly damaged.
A man in his forties was arrested in connection with this file, confirms the Régie intermunicipale de police Thérèse de Blainville (RIPTB) on Friday morning. “[We] arrested a suspect overnight in connection with a possible arson attack that had just occurred,” the police said.
The file of the two attacks on the pizzeria has been transferred to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), we add. The Major Crimes Investigation Division will continue the investigation. “Certain elements collected during the investigation lead us to believe that there could be links with organized crime,” reports the SQ.
Around 12:30 a.m., while plainclothes police were near a business in Sainte-Thérèse, they heard a noise and later saw the start of a fire in front of a business. They headed outside and observed individuals in front of this same business. The individuals then fled on foot.
The plainclothes police pursued the suspects and succeeded in arresting one of them, a man in his 40s from the Montreal area.
The Laval condo rented by the owner of the Beach Club had been targeted by gunfire last week. This is therefore the third criminal act targeting buildings linked to Mr. Primeau in less than a week.
In an Instagram post shared Thursday morning, the businessman explained “not to rule out” the possibility of being the target of attacks. He does not know the reason for these attacks, he said.
He announces in the same message that he wants to take a step back and reduce his public appearances to ensure his safety and that of his family.
