Part of action movie and television hero Chuck Norris' fame rests with the bigger-than-life stories of his physical accomplishments.

As a world champion in martial arts, many of those stories have a foundation in truth. But others go way beyond, such as his spoof of a Volvo truck ad showing him doing the splits between the wings of two jets in flight.

But now there's an allegation that police used his image to intimidate a crowd.

The Montreal Gazette reports the claim is under investigation by the Quebec police ethics board.

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A political-science professor, Francis Dupuis-Déri, filed the protest with authorities against nine police officers who were patrolling streets in Quebec City last year when the G7 summit was held.

"The complaint includes a video of a protest held June 8 in which a photo of Chuck Norris carrying a rifle in each hand can be seen attached to the door of a police van used to transport an arrested demonstrator," the report said.

Dupuis-Déri said he thinks police used the image "to intimidate protesters and, in doing so, diminished the public's trust."

Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume and city police declined comment.

Dupuis-Déri identified by badge numbers the nine officers who were involved in the "offense."

"I thought that was in really bad taste and that it was a form of intimidation and threat from the police toward the public and the protesters," the professor said.

He alleged the photo was from a poster of the movie "Invasion U.S.A." in which Norris plays the role of a man "pitted against communists from Cuba during the Cold War."

"My complaint is really about this specific case and these specific police officers who were in the minivan," the professor complained.

Norris' jet stunt was a parody of an ad by action movie hero Jean-Claude Van Damme, who performed a split between two moving Volvo trucks.

See the Van Damme ad, followed by Chuck Norris' parody:

WND reported a Toyota Tacoma truck ad featuring Norris in which he incredulously asks, "You replaced me with a truck?"

A career that culminated in repeated world martial arts championships was followed by successful careers both in movies and in television, where he starred in "Walker, Texas Ranger" for eight seasons.

Norris has said some of his favorite internet "facts" include:

"When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris."

"Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants."

"Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris."

When asked what he thought about the phenomenon, Norris said: "My answer is always the same: Some are funny. Some are pretty far out. And, thankfully, most are just promoting harmless fun."

Norris also downplays the notion that he's some sort of superhero.

"I've got a bulletin for you, folks. I am no superman. I realize that now, but I didn't always. As six-time world karate champion and then a movie star, I put too much trust in who I was, what I could do and what I acquired. I forgot how much I needed others and especially God. Whether we are famous or not, we all need God. We also need other people."

His toughness is matched by that of his wife, Gena Norris.

The couple told of her years-long and multi-million dollar fight for life when she was poisoned during a series of routine MRI tests.

A metal used in the dye that facilitates the test accumulated in her body, leaving her feeling like she was dying.

She talked about her experience in an interview on "Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson."

Norris has been writing a weekly column exclusively for WND since October 2006.