A Montreal student is denouncing the rough treatment by police who tried to pull her over for wearing headphones while cycling downtown.

Romane Loranger said she didn't stop on the de Maisonneuve bike path this past Monday when a police officer signalled the 19-year-old to pull over because otherwise she'd be late for an appointment. When the officer caught up to her at René-Lévesque and Drummond....

"He grabbed my shoulder and completely threw me off of my bike," said Loranger in an exclusive interview with CJAD 800 News.

"I was crying, I was shaking."

Loranger said she also didn't understand why four more officers showed up in two police cars.

Loranger said she refused to hand over her i.d. until her lawyer showed up. That's when officers lunged at her and started grabbing her. Loranger said they were trying to haul her off into a police cruiser.

"When I didn't cooperate because I was freaking out from being totally violated of my rights, one of the officers, a woman surprisingly, was like, 'We're the bosses,' " said Loranger, still clearly upset after the incident.

"Honestly, wearing headphones on a bike is pretty insignificant," said Loranger in response to the use of force and the number of officers called in.

Loranger got several tickets totalling over $600 for obstruction of justice, wearing headphones while cycling and going down the wrong way on a one way street.

Police won't comment on specific cases and said people can file complaints.

Traffic division inspector Vincent Richer said in any such case, police can call for backup if the suspected offender tries to get away.

"No, it's not unreasonable if the police officer doesn't have the opportunity or the possibility to stop the person," said Richer.

"If he has a resistance, of course, he can call backup to get help from co-workers."

Richer said that's the case for motorists or cyclists.