Article content

MONTREAL – When Lawrence Klepper drove out of his condo building’s garage one morning last March, he had no idea he was being watched. But inside an unmarked car across the street, an officer with Westmount’s public safety department was ready to give pursuit.

Officer Armand Morin had been assigned that morning to tail the retired stockbroker’s BMW. He was armed only with an extendable nightstick and a small camera, but then again his suspect was not exactly a dangerous criminal.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Westmount’s most wanted: man who dared feed squirrels focus of elaborate stakeout Back to video

“On that day, your Honour,” Mr. Morin explained Tuesday in Municipal Court, “I was assigned to an unmarked car, and I was asked to see if Mr. Klepper was still feeding the animals.”

Mr. Klepper, 70, a self-described “extreme animal lover,” had been ticketed multiple times before for spreading seeds and nuts for birds and squirrels – a violation of Westmount’s Bylaw 257 — and the wealthy Montreal Island enclave was running out of patience.