A coroner’s report concludes that the death of 29-year-old Abisay Cruz during a police confrontation in Montreal in 2025 was accidental, while flagging the hogtie restraint technique used by officers as a possible contributing factor. The finding centers on an incident in the Saint-Michel neighbourhood on March 30, 2025, where Cruz died after an altercation involving five officers.
The report explicitly links the restraint approach to the overall sequence of events, describing the hogtie method as a factor that may have influenced the outcome, though it does not classify the death as intentional or ruled by the technique alone. No other causal details are provided in the released information.
Officials have not announced any changes to policy or training, at least within the information made public in the coroner’s findings. The coroner’s statement emphasizes the need for careful review of restraint practices and their potential impact on individuals during confrontations with law enforcement.
The case remains under scrutiny as authorities, families, and civil society observers seek clearer explanations and guidance on safe restraint practices. Further updates from the coroner’s office or related investigations have not been disclosed in the current report.
