A recent coroner’s report revealed that the death of a 29-year-old man after a confrontation with the police was deemed accidental, with the police’s use of a specific restraint technique being identified as a likely contributing factor. Abisay Cruz passed away on March 30, 2025, following an incident that initiated on a rear balcony of an apartment in Saint-Michel, Montreal. Tragically, Cruz was one of two individuals who lost their lives in separate police operations conducted by the Montreal police within a 12-hour timeframe that same weekend. The events surrounding Cruz’s demise, including footage of the encounter that circulated on social media, led to protests in the neighborhood and further exacerbated tensions between the community and law enforcement.
The technique in question, known as the “hogtie technique,” involves binding a person’s limbs behind their back while they are lying face down. According to Coroner Géhane Kamel, Cruz’s passing was linked to “cocaine intoxication and probable positional asphyxia during a police intervention.” Kamel emphasized the controversial nature of the hogtie technique, highlighting its restricted or banned status by various police and medical organizations due to its association with detainee fatalities and concerns regarding safety and human rights violations. She stated that it was highly probable that this restraint method played a significant role in Cruz’s tragic outcome.
In her detailed report, Kamel described Cruz as the second youngest of five siblings, characterized by his family as a caring individual with strong familial connections. Leading up to his death, Cruz was facing potential deportation to Honduras, a circumstance that likely contributed to his heightened stress levels. On the day of the incident, a 911 call reported a distressed individual, later identified as Cruz, near Pie-IX Boulevard and 47th Street. While the police maintained that Cruz posed an immediate physical threat, conflicting witness testimonies suggested that Cruz was initially cooperative and non-threatening before the situation escalated. Ultimately, five police officers were involved in restraining Cruz.
Despite the investigation by the independent police watchdog, the BEI, which resulted in no criminal charges against the officers involved, Kamel raised concerns about the handling of the situation. She criticized the prolonged face-down restraint of Cruz and highlighted the lack of effective leadership from the supervising officer as Cruz’s condition deteriorated. Kamel recommended that the Montreal police officially ban the hogtie technique and equip officers with naloxone kits and body-worn cameras for crisis interventions or situations requiring the use of force.
Montreal police responded by expressing their commitment to implementing the coroner’s recommendations. They clarified that the hogtie technique is not part of the training provided at the provincial police academy or within the police service itself. The statement emphasized the importance of officers recognizing medical distress signs, especially in cases of intoxication, and the prompt provision of medical assistance once a subject is under control.
Alain Babineau, a former RCMP staff sergeant associated with The Red Coalition, expressed deep concern over the coroner’s findings, questioning the policy framework within the SPVM and the continued use of the controversial technique despite its long-standing disapproval. The report also highlighted deficiencies in the response from Urgences-santé, citing recurring service shortages that impacted the medical support available on the day of Cruz’s tragic passing.
