Montreal police issues new directive to officers about use of hog-tie restraint

Montreal police have instructed their officers to cease using the controversial "hog-tie" restraint technique following a man's death last year. This directive comes in the wake of a tragic incident that occurred in 2025, which has raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the practice.

The Montreal police made the decision to halt the use of the restraint technique after a Quebec coroner's report was released, implicating the method in the death of 29-year-old Abisay Cruz. Deputy police chief Marc Charbonneau announced that the internal notice was sent to officers following the release of the coroner's report on August 12, 2025.

In her comprehensive report, coroner Géhane Kamel determined that Cruz's death was likely caused by a combination of cocaine intoxication and probable positional asphyxia during a police intervention in March 2025. The coroner concluded that it was "highly likely" the positioning contributed to the fatal outcome.

Charbonneau emphasized that the hog-tie restraint, which involves binding a person's hands and feet behind their back, is not officially taught by either Montreal police or Quebec's provincial police academy. He further stated that the restraint technique is not part of the official training curriculum for police officers in the province.

Montreal police authorities have pledged their support to the coroner's recommendations and affirmed their commitment to reviewing and implementing the report's findings.