Prized photo of hockey legend Jean Béliveau still missing after suspect arrested in Quebec City
Quebec City Police have arrested a 50-year-old man in connection with the theft of a signed Jean Béliveau photo that was taken from Quebec's peewee hockey museum in the Videotron Centre the night of Feb. 11.
The photo belonged to Ghislain Bérubé, who has been volunteering with the peewee tournament since the 1960s.
Bérubé, also known as Mr. Pee-wee, had collected the photo as part of his vast assortment of artifacts from the competition's 64 editions. As a Béliveau "super fan," he got the photo signed by the hockey legend not long after.
According to police, investigators conducted a search of the suspect's residence in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste sector. He was released on a promise to appear in court.
Bérubé says the arrest is a good first step but he's trying to remain hopeful that his prized possession will be returned.
"We already know that there is a high chance that it is lost," said Bérubé.
"I don't forgive him because there are other things he could have done without taking a picture of Jean Béliveau."
The stolen photo was part of the personal collection of longtime volunteer, Ghislain Bérubé, who's also known as Mr. Pee-wee. (Bruno Giguère/Radio-Canada)
Patrick Dom, general manager of the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, says there is an ongoing investigation but preliminary information suggests that the suspect tried to drop the signed photo off in a package at a shipping centre.
"I think it's been dropped ... with no stamps, no nothing, no address, just Videotron and Béliveau," said Dom. "That's why we think that we will never get it back maybe it's been in the garbage or someone pick it up."
He says this theft "hurts," as the image was one of a kind.
"Hopefully we will get it back. But you know, we don't want to get our hopes way too high," said Dom.
