The former Ottawa police officer at the centre of the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi told a coroner’s inquest on Friday that he “didn’t specifically check for a pulse” as Abdi lay handcuffed on the ground and officers awaited paramedics.
Former constable Daniel Montsion, who was acquitted of manslaughter in 2020, testified publicly for a second day on Friday at the ongoing coroner’s inquest about the death of Abdi, a 38-year-old Somali-Canadian man who died in police custody in July 2016.
The inquest is being led by Dr. David Eden.
The death of Abdi and the acquittal of Montsion led to massive protests in Ottawa over police interaction with individuals from racialized communities and those with mental health problems.
“When you prepared duty notes, you did not know there was a video,” noted Tina Hill, the lawyer representing Abdi’s family, referring to a video of the incident recorded by a witness.
Although Montsion confirmed this, he justified his original description of events. “I knew he had a pulse because he was breathing,” he said, when questioned about why he did not follow normal first aid procedures.
Montsion was the second officer who responded to multiple 911 calls concerning Abdi groping women and acting erratically that day at a coffee shop in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood. Abdi, who suffered from mental illness, resisted arrest and was beaten to the ground by police, then held down until he fell unconscious.
During the inquest’s fifth day on Friday, the family’s lawyer challenged the officer’s portrayal of his actions, and said evidence proved Montsion notes were incorrect: “You couldn’t have checked his pulse because you were wearing gloves.”
Montsion was wearing Oakley SI Assault Gloves, which are made with hard plastic over the knuckles. He confirmed that he punched Abdi three times in the face while he was standing, and five more times on the ground before placing him in handcuffs.
Montsion can been seen in a video bending down to check Abdi’s breathing — once shortly after he is handcuffed, and again shortly after he is placed in the recovery position.
“From that point on until the paramedics arrive, you don’t bend down and check again?” asked Hill. Montsion indicated that Abdi was breathing until an ambulance arrived, stating that he checked at least a minute and half beforehand.
“It was a coincidence that Mr. Abdi stopped breathing just before the paramedics arrived?” asked Hill.
Montsion was found not guilty of manslaughter after being charged for allegedly using excessive force by punching Abdi in the face with the plated gloves. Montsion did not testify at his own trial.
The coroner’s inquest, which does not make findings on criminal culpability, is gathering testimony from over 20 witnesses. Five jurors will make suggestions on how to avoid such incidents in the future, based on the conclusions made from the evidence presented.
When paramedics arrived on the scene after the Abdi’s arrest, they informed Montsion that Abdi had lost vital signs. Montsion told the inquest that he was surprised by this information and assisted in providing CPR.
Maria Stevens, the inquest counsel, questioned Montsion about not informing paramedics that Abdi had been hit in the head a number of times. “I am going to suggest to you that the information… was not something you conveyed to paramedics.”
Montsion denied this. “I would say that was wrong,” he said. “I specifically said that I hit him in the head.”
The inquest continues Monday.
