37 cases of alleged police abuse in Val-d'Or handed over to Crown

Quebec's director of criminal prosecutions (DPCP)will announce Friday whether the Crownwill pursue charges related to dozens of complaints of alleged abuse involving Indigenouswomen at the hands of Quebec provincial police officers in Val-d'Or.

Montreal police, which handled the investigation, turned over 37 files to prosecutors for review, the department said in a statement Monday.

• Aboriginal women pick up phone to complain about Quebec police abuse

The DPCPsaidit will inform complainants of its decision prior to holding a news conference Friday in Val-d'Or but declined to comment further.

'Stunning' number of complaints

Edith Cloutier, executive director of Val-d'Or'sNative friendship centre, which has been supporting the alleged victims, was shocked by the number of reportedcases.

"One is a lot, so 37 is just as stunning, but we knew there were quite a few complaints," she said.

"It's going to be a very difficult week."

Montreal police took over aninvestigation into allegations of police abuse in Val-d'Or in October 2015,after a report by Radio-Canada's investigative programEnqute uncoveredalleged stories of sexual violence toward Aboriginal women in the community 600 kilometres northwest of Montreal.

In the aftermath of the report, morewomen came forward with their own allegations of police abuse.

The Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador,GhislainPicard, saidpeople are anxious to hear the result of the investigation.

"Information has been somewhat sketchy in terms of the process,"Picardsaid. "A lot of people were waiting [for this update], especially the families of the women who went forward with the complaints."

TheSretduQubecdeclined to comment.

The cases involveallegations madeprior to April 4, 2016, when the Quebec government expanded the scope of the investigation.

• WATCH |Investigation on shocking allegations in Val-d'Or