The Other Side

Many of us were outraged, last week, when we learned of the judges decision in the case of the wrongful death of Abdirahman Abdi against Ottawa Police Services Constable Daniel Montsion. It was a long and heart-wrenching trial, and the pain of Abdi's family was exacerbated when Ontario Court Justice Robert Kelly delivered his verdict and acquitted Montsion of all charges.

Like so many people, I saw the video footage of Montsion striking Abdi as he lay on the ground outside his apartment building. I learned of the reinforced gloves that Montsion wore as he dealt his forceful blow. And like those who saw this evidence, I was outraged and delivered my angered verdict of guilty.

Yet another cop getting away with killing a person of colour.

And then, over the weekend, DW showed me an opinion piece that a friend of hers shared over Facebook. The person who wrote the opinion urged readers to do their own research, and so I did.

There's another side to the story.

By looking at previously published stories in various news sites, here's what I gleaned as facts in the overall case.

• Abdirahman Abdi was a man with mental health issues.
• Abdi had a pre-existing heart condition that could prove fatal with extreme exertion.
• Abdi had been given medication to help deal with his issues but he had stopped taking them.
• Abdi sexually assaulted at least two women.
• Police were called and were informed that a man had assaulted these women, and the police sent an officer to investigate.
• A police officer arrived on the scene and tried to place Abdi under arrest.
• Abdi resisted the arrest, assaulted the police officer, and attempted to escape. (It was noted that Abdi was a large man and exhibited strength: the police officer deemed that he would not be able to apprehend Abdi alone, and he requested backup.)
• Abdi, in his flight from the police officer, obtained a 30-pound object from a construction site and wielded it at the officer. Abdi now had a weapon.
• As Abdi neared an apartment building, the police officer had closed on Abdi and was able to push him, which resulted in Abdi dropping the weapon and falling to the ground. It was around this time that Constable Montsion arrived on the scene as the backup.
• Abdi continued to resist. A baton was used and video shows Montsion striking Abdi, who was now standing. The blows landed on the muscular part of Abdi's legs as an attempt to get Abdi on the ground (the police repeatedly ordered him to get down).
• Abdi continued to resist and was struck by Montsion, who was wearing reinforced gloves as part of his uniform.
• As soon as Abdi was subdued and handcuffed, neither officer struck Abdi again.
• When Abdi became unresponsive, the officers called for paramedics and began to perform CPR on Abdi until medical help arrived.
• Abdi died and the coroner ruled that the cause was heart failure. The blows inflicted by Montsion were not a direct cause of Abdi's death.

As the author of the opinion piece that I read suggested, do your own research.

Public opinion immediately condemned Montsion, based largely on the short video that was shared through multiple media outlets, plus with reports of the protective gear that was worn. I am among those who jumped to conclusions: another person of colour dies at the hands of police.

But we seem to dismiss the actions that Abdi's took that day:

• If Abdi had taken his prescribed medication that day, he might still be alive today.
• If Abdi hadn't assaulted those women—who were the victims that day—he might still be alive.
• If Abdi hadn't resisted the police officer, he might still be alive.
• If Abdi hadn't assaulted the police officer, he might still be alive.
• If Abdi hadn't wielded a heavy object as a weapon, he might still be alive.
• If Abdi hadn't resisted again, after the second officer arrived, he might still be alive.

These are his actions. Did he deserve to die? Of course not.

But Abdi also had a bad heart—apparently, with an 80-percent blockage. The exertion of this day, of the actions that he took, likely led to his heart giving out.

It should also be noted that according to witness accounts, when the police were called, they were responding to calls of a man sexually assaulting women. When the police arrived, the officer was responding to a sexual assault allegation and was faced with a combative suspect who was attempting to flee.

This weekend, I was presented with the other side to the story of the Abdirahman Abdi case. On further examination of the facts, I see a bigger picture. And as someone who has seen more gruesome abuses of police against people of colour, as a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, I found it hard to curb my anger towards the injustices that are carried out by those who are supposed to protect all lives, regardless of the colour of one's skin.

When I saw one side of this story, I was angry at Constable Montsion. I still feel that the gloves he wore that day are inappropriate. When Justice Kelly presented his verdict, I was outraged. I felt that justice was not served—no justice, no peace.

But now that I've looked into the other side of the story, read witness accounts and followed the chronicle of events leading up to Abdi's apprehension, I have to give pause.

Am I missing something? Was Abdi faultless in his apprehension?

I welcome your comments.