A recent coroner’s report indicates that the death of a 29-year-old man after an encounter with the police was deemed accidental, with the restraint method used by officers likely playing a contributing role. Abisay Cruz passed away on March 30, 2025, following an incident that initiated on the back balcony of an apartment in Saint-Michel, Montreal.
Cruz was one of two individuals who lost their lives in separate police operations conducted by Montreal police within a 12-hour timeframe that weekend. Following his demise and the circulation of footage depicting parts of the intervention on social media, protests erupted in the neighborhood, intensifying existing sentiments of distrust toward law enforcement.
The technique employed by the police, known as the “hogtie technique,” involves binding an individual’s limbs behind their back while they are lying on their stomach. According to Coroner Géhane Kamel, Cruz’s demise was linked to cocaine intoxication and possible positional asphyxia during the police intervention.
Kamel highlighted that the use of the hogtie technique is discouraged and restricted by various police and medical organizations due to its association with deaths in detention and concerns regarding safety and human rights violations. She emphasized that this restraint method likely played a significant role in Cruz’s death.
The report reveals that Cruz, the second youngest of five siblings, was described by loved ones as a caring individual with strong family ties. Leading up to his passing, the stress of potential deportation to Honduras weighed heavily on him. Concerns raised by the coroner include the prolonged face-down restraint of Cruz by officers and the absence of decisive leadership from a supervising sergeant as Cruz’s condition deteriorated.
Kamel recommended that the Montreal Police Service officially prohibit the hogtie technique and equip officers with naloxone kits and body-worn cameras for handling crisis situations involving the use of force. In response, Montreal police expressed their commitment to implementing these recommendations and clarified that the hogtie technique is not part of their training curriculum.
Alain Babineau, a former RCMP staff sergeant associated with The Red Coalition, expressed apprehension over the coroner’s findings and questioned the training protocols within the Montreal police force. The report also criticized the response from Urgences-santé, citing recurrent service shortages on the day of Cruz’s passing.
Moving forward, it remains to be seen how the Montreal police will address the recommendations presented by the coroner to enhance their response protocols and ensure the safety of individuals in crisis situations.