Quebec coroner recommends Montreal police review use of force after 2025 death

Montreal police will review its use of force practices following the death of 29-year-old Abisay Cruz in 2025. Quebec coroner Géhane Kamel concluded that the hog-tie restraint technique likely contributed to Cruz's accidental death due to toxic levels of cocaine in his bloodstream. Kamel stated that the restraint, widely discouraged and banned in several police and medical organizations, poses a significant risk for asphyxiation.

She met with officers involved in the incident and urged Montreal police to improve their recognition of signs of medical distress, particularly when dealing with intoxicated individuals. Kamel also recommended the use of body cameras, as witness accounts of the events leading to Cruz's death differ significantly from police reports.

The coroner noted that the incident occurred during Cruz's deportation proceedings to Honduras and that he was in an altered state of mind.