Akwesasne TV
By Ian Oakes
On Tuesday, Antoine Delormier says he was assaulted and detained by 4 CBSA Agents while attempting to bring himself to the hospital to seek emergency treatment for difficulty breathing. Mr. Delormier, a 67 year old, disabled transplant recipient, was forcefully removed from his vehicle when refusing to exit the vehicle, instead instructing the officer of his health condition and need for urgent care. This altercation sent Mr. Delormier with life threatening injuries to the hospital, requiring him to be admitted to the ICU just two days later.
Mr. Delormier’s condition worsened on Thursday, and around 5 PM, he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit at a Cornwall area hospital. Exact details of Mr. Delormier’s condition were not immediately available, however he was unable to speak with Akwesasne TV. Family members said that his condition had worsened to the point of being nearly unable to breathe, and attempts were being made to improve his condition Thursday evening.
“They are keeping an eye on his lung and his heart,†said wife Donna Delormier, “He is not really able to communicate or hold a conversation.â€
When Mr. Delormier left his home on Tuesday, ill and attempting to get to the hospital, he arrived at Canada Customs and was asked to proceed to the secondary inspection station. Him and members of his family were later advised that it was due to an odor of tobacco coming from his vehicle.
Mr. Delormier refused based on his medical condition, but this caused agents to “bend his arm on the side truck, the other guy grabbed ahold of his other arm, and they threw him out of the truck and slammed him on the ground,†according to Donna Delormier.
This was only the beginning of Mr. Delormier’s nightmare, as he was subdued by 4 agents, handcuffed, and carried off to a detention cell. Mr. Delormier told the officers he was unable to breath and needed an ambulance. Delormier told several officers that he needed an ambulance, and one was eventually called.
Once Mr. Delormier arrived at the hospital, it was shown that Mr. Delormier had suffered a number of injuries at the hands of CBSA officers. Donna Delormier, Antoine’s wife, took pictures documenting his injuries. On arrival, Mr. Delormier had a collapsed lung, and was in the beginning stages of a heart attack. This horrific event follows Mr. Delormier receiving arterial stents just three weeks earlier.
The Family was unable to retrieve Mr. Delormiers personal effects, which would have prohibited any move to a health facility with greater capacity to treat him. Mr. Delormier’s vehicle was also not released to the family until the following day with no comments given as to why his belongings were impounded. An agent with CBSA arrived from Ottawa to inform the Delormier’s that Antoine had been “un-arrested”, providing little information to Delormier or family.
The Delormier’s are looking for the community’s help from anyone who may have been in line at Customs during the time the attack took place.
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief. Abram Benedict, said in a statement to the media that the incident is being reviewed by Canada Border Services Agency.
Akwesasne TV will update when we receive more information.
