Quebec man accused of dousing child with gasoline
Updated Wed. Apr. 25 2007 10:31 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A Quebec man is accused of dousing a nine-year-old boy with gasoline, after taking the child from an elementary school.
Alain Berube, 38, appeared in court Wednesday and was ordered by a judge to undergo a psychiatric examination to see if he's fit to stand trial.
Berube faces 13 charges, including kidnapping, forcible confinement, aggravated assault and uttering death threats.
On Tuesday, he allegedly crashed his car into the fence of an elementary school in Port-Cartier, located more than 500 kilometres northwest of Quebec City.
"Then he got out of his car, pushed some kids, grabbed a teacher, and went inside of the school," alleged Marc Butz of the Quebec Provincial Police.
He is then accused of seizing nine-year-old Daven Jean-Duchesne.
"He told me he would kill me," Daven claimed. "He slapped me across the face and he took me out of the school"
The suspect dragged Devan half a kilometre to a gas station, where he began pouring gasoline over the boy.
A music teacher, Guillaume Letendre, chased after them and was shocked at what he found.
"I saw the man pouring fuel all over Devan," he said. "I saw him put his hand in his pocket and thought he was reaching for a lighter. That's when I jumped in and he let go of the boy."
Devan suffered a sore neck and got a headache from the gas. But his mother said he was calm throughout the ordeal, and was even well enough to return to school
His fellow classmates treated him like a hero.
"Kids in my class even asked for my autograph," he said.
Police say the suspect kidnapped Devan at random and his motives are still unclear. He has two children who attend the same school, but they were at home at the time.
In addition to facing 13 charges, Berube is also accused of breaking his bail conditions. He must remain in detention until his next court appearance, scheduled for May 18.
