A report by a coroner has determined that the death of a 29-year-old man after an encounter with police was accidental, but the method used by officers to restrain him likely played a role. Abisay Cruz passed away on March 30, 2025, after an incident that started on a balcony in the Saint-Michel area of the city.
Cruz was one of two individuals who died as a result of separate police operations conducted by Montreal authorities within a 12-hour timeframe that weekend. His demise, along with footage of the incident that circulated on social media, led to protests in the neighborhood and heightened distrust towards law enforcement.
The technique known as the “hogtie method,” utilized in this case, involves binding a person’s limbs behind their back while they are lying face down. Coroner Géhane Kamel concluded that Cruz’s death resulted from “cocaine intoxication and likely positional asphyxia during a police intervention.”
Kamel noted that the hogtie technique is widely discouraged and restricted by various police and medical organizations due to its association with deaths in custody and concerns about safety and human rights violations. She emphasized that the restraint method likely played a significant role in Cruz’s death.
The report highlighted that Cruz was the second youngest among five siblings, described as an affectionate individual with a strong familial connection. Leading up to his tragic end, Cruz was facing potential deportation to Honduras, which added to his stress levels.
On the day of the incident, a call was made to 911 reporting a man, later identified as Cruz, in distress near Pie-IX Boulevard and 47th Street. While the police claimed Cruz posed an immediate physical threat, other witnesses contradicted this account, stating that Cruz was sitting with his hands up and appeared willing to communicate before the situation escalated.
Five police officers were involved in restraining Cruz, with Kamel suggesting that there was a perceived threat to both the individuals in the apartment and Cruz himself. The coroner recommended banning the hogtie technique and suggested equipping officers with naloxone kits and body-worn cameras for crisis situations involving force.
Montreal police responded by committing to follow up on the recommendations. They clarified that the hogtie method is not part of official training at the province’s police academy or within the police service itself. Alain Babineau, a former RCMP staff sergeant, expressed concerns over the findings, questioning the SPVM’s policy procedures regarding the controversial technique.
The report also criticized Urgences-santé for experiencing service shortages, noting that on the day of Cruz’s death, there was only one advanced paramedic team available for the entire island of Montreal.
