Death of Abisay Cruz

Abisay Cruz, aged 29, died after being arrested and restrained by officers of the Montreal City Police Service on 30 March 2025.

Police were called to the apartment where Cruz lived to deal with an individual "in crisis". Following their arrival, they attempted to restrain Cruz. Videos of this show police officers kneeling on Cruz's back and Cruz stating that he was "going to die". Cruz later lost consciousness, but paramedics were refused access to him until the police had brought him out of the building. He was transferred by ambulance to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Several family members of Cruz, present at the incident, report that the police used excessive force in the arrest and speculated that his harsh treatment was motivated by police racism. The incident was referred to the Bureau des Enquêtes Indépendantes, the entity responsible for investigating potential police misconduct in the Province of Quebec.