A report from the coroner has determined that the death of a 29-year-old man in connection with a police altercation was accidental, with the technique employed by officers to restrain him likely playing a role. Abisay Cruz passed away on March 30, 2025, following an incident that initiated on a back balcony in Saint-Michel, Montreal. His demise, alongside footage of the intervention shared on social media, led to protests in the area and exacerbated existing distrust toward law enforcement.
The use of the “hogtie technique” by the police, which involves binding a person’s limbs together while lying on their stomach, was cited in the report by Coroner Géhane Kamel. The cause of Cruz’s death was determined to be linked to cocaine intoxication and potential positional asphyxia during the police intervention.
Kamel highlighted that the hogtie method is discouraged by many police and medical organizations due to its association with fatalities and concerns about safety and human rights violations. She emphasized that this restraint likely contributed to Cruz’s death.
In her findings, Kamel described Cruz as the second youngest among five siblings, characterized as a caring individual with a strong familial connection. Leading up to his demise, Cruz faced the stress of potential deportation to Honduras, a significant factor in his life at the time.
On the day of the incident, a 911 call reported a man, later identified as Cruz, in distress near Pie-IX Boulevard and 47th Street. While police asserted he posed an immediate physical threat, other witnesses offered conflicting accounts, suggesting Cruz was cooperative before things escalated.
Despite differing narratives, Kamel concluded that there was a perceived threat to both the individuals in the apartment and Cruz, justifying the involvement of five police officers in restraining him. The BEI, Quebec’s police watchdog, conducted an investigation into Cruz’s death, leading to no criminal charges against the officers.
Kamel’s report raised concerns about the police response, particularly the extended period Cruz was held face-down before being shifted. She criticized the lack of intervention from a supervising officer as Cruz’s condition worsened. Kamel recommended banning the hogtie technique, urging the SPVM to equip officers with naloxone kits and deploy body-worn cameras in crisis situations involving force.
Montreal police confirmed their commitment to implementing the recommendations, emphasizing that the hogtie technique is not part of their training curriculum. Alain Babineau, from The Red Coalition, expressed alarm at the findings, questioning the SPVM’s training protocols regarding the controversial method.
The report also criticized Urgences-santé for facing service shortages, with only one advanced paramedic team available across Montreal the day Cruz passed away.