The Ottawa police officer acquitted in the death of Abdirahman Abdi six years ago spoke publicly for the first time at the coroner's inquest into the Ottawa man's death. Const. Daniel Montsion told the inquiry punches were intended to distract Abdi while he and a fellow officer attempted to arrest him outside a Hintonburg apartment on July 24, 2016.
Montsion was found not guilty of manslaughter, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in 2020. Montsion recounted that he responded to a call for backup to assist Const. David Weir, who was the first officer to arrive at Bridgehead coffee shop in Hintonburg, where a man reportedly groped a woman.
The video of the altercation was played during Montsion's testimony. He said he was in his cruiser on his way to assist Weir, and civilians provided directions to follow Weir and Abdi, who ended up at 55 Hilda Street. Montsion told jurors he saw Weir and Adbi “clash together” and walked towards the scene.
There, he recalls seeing Abdi in a “defensive stance” following some baton blows for Weir, with his fists clenched waist-high. Montsion said as he walked up to them Abdi lunged at Weir and attempted to grab Montsion. It was then Montsion said both officers struck Abdi.
Montsion hitting him several times in the head to try to restrain him so they could put handcuffs on him. “They throw him off balance and distract him. End of the day, we were able to take control of him and get him on the ground," he said.
During testimony.