Former PQ leader Andr Boisclair arrested in Quebec City after midnight car crash

FormerPartiQubcoisleaderAndrBoisclairhas confirmedhe wasarrested in Quebec City early Thursday morning after crashing his vehicle into a lamppost.

"I was indeed arrested last night for having driven my car while beingunder the influence of alcohol," said a post onBoisclair'sFacebook page, which was published Thursday evening.

"I made a big mistake and I am deeply sorry and I will now have to face the consequences," the post went on in French.

"My only consolation is that the situation I caused did not affect anyone else."

Several charges possible

At the time of the arrest, Quebec City police would not name the suspect but confirmed thata 51-year-old man was detained just after midnight in theSaint-Rochdistrict aftercrashinghis vehicle into a lamppost on St-Joseph Street.

Police say the suspect refused to take abreathalyzer test and tried to intimidate officers.

Charges could include:

• Impaired driving.
• Refusal to take abreathalyzer test.
• Obstruction ofjustice.
• Intimidation of a member of the justice system.

Shortly before noon Thursday, Boisclairwas seen leavingQuebec City police headquarters.

He was released with a promise to appear in court on Feb. 15, 2018.

Reactions at National Assembly

Several of Boisclair's former colleaguesat the National Assembly refused to comment on his arrest.

Others were cautious. PQMNA Maka Kotto said he didn't know Boisclairvery well but was disappointed to hear the news.

The Coalition Avenir Qubec'sric Cairesaid the judicial process has tofollow its course.

"Mr. Boisclair, like every other Quebec citizen, must obey thelaw."

AmirKhadir from Qubec Solidairesaid it was an unfortunate eventbut also a private matter.

"It can happen to anyone, but you'd expect better coming from someone who has sat at the National Assembly," Khadir said.

Political career

Boisclairwas first elected to the National Assembly in 1989 in Montreal's Gouin riding,becoming the youngest MNAin history.

He served ascabinet minister under Quebec premiersLucien Bouchard andBernard Landry, and was PQ leaderfrom 2005 to 2007.

In 2005,Boisclairadmitted to using cocaine in the 1990s when he was a Quebec provincial cabinet minister.He said at the time that he no longer used drugs.

Boisclairis currentlythe president and director-general of the Institut de dveloppement urbain du Qubec. The institute declined tocomment on Boisclair's arrest on Thursday.