Man delivering sandbags to flooded Roxboro street arrested by police

Montreal police have arrested a mantrying to deliver sandbags to a flooded streetin the neighbourhood of Roxboro.

On Tuesday afternoon, Alain Furlanobrought a pick-up truck and trailer full of sandbags to the corner of Gouin Boulevard and 5e Avenue. He was trying to take the sandbags to the end of the street to reinforce a dike.

Police spokespersonConst. Jean-Pierre Brabantsaid Furlano was told repeatedly that by putting down sandbagshe risked diverting the flow of water and eroding the ground underneath nearby train tracks, which could in turn make them unsafe.

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When Furlanoarrived, he was told by policehe wouldn't be allowed to take the sandbags down the street. He could dump them at the top of the road, but was warned if he came back with more, he'd be arrested.

Despite warnings, he came back minutes later. Another verbal altercation followed as Furlano continued to yell at police officers.

'I want to help the citizens'

Furlanogot out of his truck and started throwing sandbags on the ground. Shortly afterward, he was handcuffed and taken into a police car.

"I want to help the citizens who need it. The city, police are stopping me," said Furlano.

After his arrest, police and neighbourstook the sandbags, put them in a boatand floatedthem to Furlano's home on 5e Avenue.

Brabant confirmed Furlanois being detained overnight and is expected to be charged with obstruction of justice on Wednesday morning.