Officer 728 was seeking help says lawyer

A controversial Montreal police officer who was arrested Monday night had contacted her union seeking help, her lawyer has confirmed.

Const. Stéfanie Trudeau, also known as officer 728, was released from custody on Tuesday after she agreed to undergo psychiatric treatment and to stay away from members of the Montreal police service.

"We know that she needs help," said Jean-Pierre Rancourt, Trudeau's lawyer.

He said she also made certain remarks that made her colleagues fear for her safety, and that of her family and others.

Trudeau was arrested at her home in Longueuil after a complaint was filed by Montreal police. The details of that complaint have not been made public.

She has not been charged with any offence.

Rancourt said he could not elaborate on the comments that Trudeau is alleged to have made.

"There are no charges laid against her and if [the Crown had found] there were threats made, there would have been charges," Rancourt said.

Trudeau, 40, has been the subject of scrutiny since she first made headlines last spring when she was caught on video pepper-spraying protesters during the student demonstrations.

She was suspended with pay in October after she was caught on tape making at least two forceful arrests and an expletive-laced retelling of the incident to her supervisor.

In that video, taken at a residence in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood, she is seen putting a man in a headlock and forcefully pulling him down a set of stairs.

As part of the conditions of her release, Trudeau agreed to spend 15 days in a Sherbrooke hospital.