A report from the coroner’s office has determined that the death of a 29-year-old man following an encounter with police was accidental, with the restraint technique used by officers likely playing a role. Abisay Cruz passed away on March 30, 2025, after an incident that started on a balcony in the Saint-Michel neighborhood of the city.
Cruz was one of two individuals who died as a result of separate police operations conducted by the Montreal police within a 12-hour period over that weekend. His passing, along with footage of the incident shared on social media, led to protests in the neighborhood and deepened existing mistrust towards 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. The coroner’s report, conducted by Géhane Kamel, stated that Cruz’s death was due to a combination of cocaine intoxication and probable positional asphyxia during the police intervention. Kamel highlighted that the use of the hogtie technique is discouraged by many police and medical organizations due to safety and human rights concerns.
Kamel’s report revealed that Cruz, the second youngest of five siblings, was described as a loving individual with strong family ties. Leading up to his death, Cruz faced the stress of potential deportation to Honduras. The incident on the day of his death was triggered by a 911 call reporting a man in distress, later identified as Cruz, near a specific intersection.
While the police maintained that Cruz posed an immediate physical threat, other witnesses contradicted this account, stating that Cruz was cooperative before the situation escalated. Nevertheless, Kamel concluded that there was a perceived threat to both the individuals in the apartment and Cruz, leading to the involvement of five police officers in restraining him.
Kamel recommended banning the hogtie technique and advised the Montreal police to equip officers with naloxone kits and body-worn cameras for handling crisis situations. The police pledged to consider and implement these suggestions. The hogtie technique is not part of the official training at Quebec’s police academy or within the police service itself.
Alain Babineau, a former RCMP staff sergeant working with The Red Coalition, expressed concerns over the findings, criticizing the continued teaching of the controversial technique. The report also criticized the response from Urgences-santé, citing service shortages on the day of Cruz’s death.