Chara/By S. Bradley
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is still the subject of a criminal investigation in Montreal stemming from his hit on Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty March 8 at the Bell Centre.
Sgt. Ian Lafrenière confirmed on the Felger and Mazz radio show on 98.5 The Sports Hub this afternoon that at the urging of the provincial government the Montreal police are still investigating whether Chara committed a crime and the there will be a “long investigation.”
But it’s highly unlikely that Chara will be questioned during the upcoming Boston-Montreal playoff series, which starts Thursday and shifts to Montreal next week.
Lafrenière said the investigation would be long because it takes time to get in touch with all potential witnesses, including Montreal players that are also going to be competing in this series. He also said in an investigation like this, the suspect — in this case Chara — is the last one to be questioned. The police could still determine that there wasn’t even a crime committed.
While admitting that he’s not even a hockey fan, Lafrenière also made it clear that any misunderstanding between the police in the Bruins might stem from the time the Bruins went to Toronto for a game March 19 and thought they might be hassled at customs. Lafrenière told the Bruins they would not have a problem. He also said today that through the Bruins’ legal liaison in Montreal, he’s confident it will be easy to get in touch with any potential witnesses and that all parties will know in advance when or if they’re going to be questioned.
Dave, now you’re recommending we stoop to the asinine levels of the clowns in Montreal who jammed up 911 lines in the first place.
Not sure how many of you heard the interview, but I thought it was very well done, by both Felger & Mazz and Sgt. Lafreniere. He was careful to preface his responses with an explanation that he had to answer as a neutural enforcer of the law, but he made it clear – to me, at least – that the investigation, the designation of personnel to said investagation and the direction from whomever opened the investigation within the parliment are pretty absurd.
He didn’t hold back when asked to describe the irrational, media-driven behavior of Habs fans jamming up 911 lines with calls about the on-ice hit. Stupid is a strong word, but in this case it’s right on the money.
Now that is some Canadian tax dollars well spent.
I propose any Bruins fan living in the Montreal area call to file a police report every time a Habs player gets a major penalty. If the police complain that you are abusing the system, simply point out that there is a precedent.
I was a witness. I bet everyone here was as well. In fact, there were over 20,000 witnesses, not to mention all those extra hundreds of thousands of people who have seen the tape over and over and over again.
WITNESSES? REALLY???
Anyway, if the authorities in Quebec contact me, I will be sure to tell them all I saw. Which was a hockey game.
A “long investigation.” That is completely absurd. The fact that this story exists is beyond moronic. If anything we should take solace in the fact that government waste is apparently an international issue and not just an issue stateside.
you’re a joke, montreal.