OTTAWA — A coroner's inquest examining the circumstances surrounding the death of Abdirahman Abdi after his arrest by Ottawa police resumed its proceedings, providing fresh insights and disturbing accounts from the individuals involved. The 38-year-old Abdi died after being involved in a violent altercation with law enforcement following a 911 call reporting alleged misconduct outside a coffee shop.
On July 24, 2016, officers were summoned to the Bridgehead coffee shop on Wellington Street where Abdi was described as behaving erratically, reportedly groping women. The initial response, according to dispatch notes, categorized the scene as simply a "disturbance." But when Constable David Weir arrived, he quickly realized it was more intensive than characterized.
"This guy’s behaviour is so erratic," Weir stated, expressing the urgency he felt at the moment. He recounted being alone on the scene and taking it upon himself to manage the situation, recognizing he was confronting Abdi, who was described as physically imposing.
Abdi complied with Weir’s commands to some extent, initially placing his hands against the wall and then behind his back. Yet, as Weir reached for handcuffs, Abdi bolted, prompting a foot chase. The struggle escalated quickly, as per the agreed statement of facts introduced during the hearings.
Abdi's attempts to evade capture included hindering Weir's pursuit by pushing obstacles such as garbage cans along his path. At one point, Weir pepper-sprayed him twice, trying to subdue the situation. Abdi’s adrenaline seemed high; he managed to lift and throw the 30-pound base of a construction sign, indicating his physical state amid the chaos.
By this point, on-site witnesses pleaded with the officers, urging them to realize the heightened stakes due to Abdi's apparent mental health crisis. One nearby resident voiced her concern, stating, "Please don’t hit him, he’s mental man. He’s sick person. He’s crazy man, he’s not well," but her calls to pause the altercation fell on deaf ears.
This unsettling interaction escalated as Constable Daniel Montsion joined the scene, wearing gloves with hard plastic knuckle coverings. Montsion struck Abdi multiple times; witnesses reported hearing Abdi yelling and crying during the assault. The mounting outcry from bystanders, including one of Abdi’s brothers who called out from a nearby balcony about his brother’s mental illness, drew little acknowledgement from the officers.
The physical altercation continued until Abdi lost consciousness, and paramedics took six minutes to arrive after Montsion expressed the need to expedite their arrival.
Tragically, Abdi succumbed to complications from injuries sustained during the arrest, passing away the following day at the hospital. His death underscored systemic issues within the police force’s handling of mental health cases.
Weir’s grim testimony indicated the lasting impact this incident has had on his psyche. He admitted he is no longer serving as police and stated, "It still affects me to this day. It’s the reason why I’m not working." While the initial evidence against Montsion led to charges including manslaughter and aggravated assault, those charges were dismissed, and he was found not guilty.
The nature of the events during Abdi's arrest was picked apart during the first few days of the inquest, which is projected to last 21 days. The jury is expected to hear from 27 witnesses, all of whom will contribute perspectives, eyewitness accounts, and possibly recommendations for legislative or procedural changes to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
During the proceedings, the jury was shown surveillance footage captured during the altercation, with Dr. David Eden, the presiding coroner, describing the video as "harrowing." Many jurors reportedly expressed difficulty watching the footage, which depicted the intensity and brutality of the arrest.
It has been noted throughout the testimony how Abdi came to Canada after fleeing strife and hardship from Somalia and briefly staying at a refugee camp in Kenya. Despite his hope for a stable life symbolized by his marriage shortly after arriving, his mental health struggles began soon thereafter, leading to the tragic ending of his story.
This mandatory coroner's inquiry seeks not to assign blame but rather to shine light on the systemic factors leading to Abdi's death and recommend measures to avoid such incidents of police brutality and neglect of vulnerable populations going forward.
The disturbing legacy of Abdirahman Abdi’s death exposes the gaps within law enforcement responses to mental health crises and prompts urgent conversations around police training, mental health resources, and community safety.
Reactions to the inquiry have stirred conversations across communities, bringing up long-standing tensions surrounding police accountability and public safety, particularly for those who are mentally ill or marginalized.
The community awaits the jurors’ feedback and potential recommendations; the success of the inquiry may rest on whether it can initiate the necessary changes to prevent such incidents from happening again.
