Ottawa man beaten to death by police

[betsy]

Abdirahman Abdi: What we know so far about the Ottawa mans death

"It just was not right for the beating that they gave that poor guy when he was down", he said. "I got to the point, I'm 67 years old and if I'd had been 30 years younger, I would have jumped that cop."

The cop who beat him in the head until he was dead.

He was Somali.

He was Black.

He was Muslim.

He had mental health issues.

It was reported that he bothered a woman in a coffee shop.

He left the coffee shop.

He was on his way home.

Police chased him, grabbed him, he resisted.

Police officer beat him in the head until he was dead.

SIU is investigating.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/man-in-critical-condition-siu-investigating-after-witnesses-say-ottawa-police-beat-him-unconscious

Eyewitness Zainab Abdallah said on Sunday that she saw Abdi, pursued by police, run toward the apartment building, and she tried to intervene. She said she pleaded with the officers that Abdi had a mental illness, but she said they didnt stop.

...

Ali said she has known the Abdi family for nearly 20 years and said Abdi was generally a gentle man, never causing any problems in the community.

...

His brother, Abdiaziz Abdi, 27, said Abdi came to Canada from Somalia in 2009 and worked hard at a downtown car wash.

"My brother was kind-hearted. He was helpful and friendly."

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/police-officer-in-abdi-death-identified-1.3695996

The two Ottawa police officers under investigation after the death of an Ottawa man following an arrest have been identified as Const. Daniel Montsion and Const. Dave Weir.

...

McGhie said the officer used his baton to strike Abdi in the legs, arms and upper body while shouting at Abdi to comply.

A second officer arrived at the scene in a police cruiser, ran out of the car and jumped into the altercation, delivering what McGhie described as "a number of very heavy blows to the head and face."

...

McGhie on Tuesday said the second officer was wearing a DART vest and, when shown a still from the YouTube video, identified him as Montsion.

'They wanted him dead'

Zeinab Abdallah, an elderly Somali woman who lives in the building, said she was leaving at the same time Abdi and the first officer were running toward it.

Speaking in Somali, she told CBC's Idil Mussa that Abdi called to her, "Sister, protect me from them. Zeinab, help me. Zeinab, help me."

...

Several people inside can be heard wailing and screaming.

A man's voice can be heard identifying himself as the superintendent of the building and saying to police, "This is the family. This is the family."

Another man, speaking in Somali, can also be heard saying "Take mom away, take her out of here. Take mom."

I think the patrol officer was trying to subdue him.

I think the guns-gangs-drugs-DART officer Montsion was trying to kill him.

And he did.

.

I feel so sorry that such excessive brutality was exercised.

It reminded me of the agitated Polish guy who got tasered and died at the airport, or of Yatim who was gunned down numerous times, even after he was already down, in the streetcar.

It shouldn't happen to anyone - regardless of color or religion, or gender, or age, or ethnicity.

ALL LIVES MATTER.

Edited August 4, 2016 by betsy

[betsy]

I'm not trying to give an excuse for the act of the police officers.....

.................but I couldn't help but wonder if this, in a way, had something to do with what's happening in Europe as well?

That the response by the cops was propelled more by emotion of frustrations and anger? Just like the anger and frustrations growing in Europe now.

The cops apparently received calls about this man "groping" women.

If you remember, groping and sexual assault done by groups of men were perpetrated against women in Europe at

New Year's Eve. Could it be that when they heard the word, "groping," the responding cops acted out on it?

I don't know.....but it's logical to assume that our law enforcement must be concerned about such new levels of

criminal acts. And some could very well be quite emotional about it happening to our women here in Canada.

I'm just wondering out loud here.

I think the world is sitting on a powder keg right now.

Edited August 4, 2016 by betsy

[cybercoma]

I'm not going to make excuses.....but here's some excuses.

[Argus]

I feel so sorry that such excessive brutality was exercised.

How do you know there was excessive 'brutality'?

[eyeball]

Someone please ask Argus what part of a number of very heavy blows to the head and face he doesn't get?

[betsy]

How do you know there was excessive 'brutality'?

All we saw was the segment of the clip that was shown. You're right....I can't say for sure.

I'm reacting to the video and to what witnesses had said. We won't fully know the details until the investigation is over.

Edited August 4, 2016 by betsy

[Argus]

All we saw was the segment of the clip that was shown. You're right....I can't say for sure.

I'm reacting to the video and to what witnesses had said. We won't fully know the details until the investigation is over.

I've seen so many false statements out of witnesses over police arrests that I pretty much ignore them, just like those people who said that Brown thug had his hands up.

The internet is full of videos with titles like "police brutality" and when you look at them all you usually see are a fairly normal arrest of someone who isn't cooperating. Some people seem to think if a cop hits someone for any reason, or even puts them on the ground and wrestles with them that constitutes police brutality.

Edited August 4, 2016 by Argus

[jacee]

If police can't arrest someone without killing him, Argus, then their training is seriously deficient.

Two updates:

family-of-abdirahman-abdi-retains-high-profile-lawyer]family-of-abdirahman-abdi-retains-high-profile-lawyer

Lawrence Greenspon, a high-profile Ottawa criminal defence and civil litigation lawyer, was retained by the family of Abdirahman Abdi last Wednesday two days after Abdis death following an arrest involving two Ottawa police officers.

...

The local community has already rallied around the family in their time of grief both financially and emotionally.

A Go Fund Me page set up after Abdis death, initially to cover funeral expenses, has been expanded to fundraise for the familys legal costs the page has raised more than $19,000 so far.

-somali-moms-want-cops-taken-off-duty-pending-siu-probe

We are shocked and horrified by the violent killing of Abdirahman Abdi by Ottawa Police officers.

We are dismayed by the Ottawa Police Associations President, Matt Skofs irresponsible statements of victim blaming and his efforts to criminalise and vilify Abdirahman.

We demand that Chief Bordeleau immediately remove the two police officers involved in the killing of Abdirahman from our streets. We do not feel safe with them still patrolling the streets.

We are very closely watching the SIU and their investigation of the case. Nothing less than a thorough, fair and transparent investigation will satisfy us, and this includes making the report public.

Anti-black racism in the Canadian criminal justice system has been evident for many years. Black people are subjected to unnecessary and unjust surveillance and profiling. We are disproportionately subjected to the hostile and highly criticised practice of carding: black children as young as 12 years of age are carded on a regular basis.

.

[taxme]

If police can't arrest someone without killing him, Argus, then their training is seriously deficient.

Two updates:

family-of-abdirahman-abdi-retains-high-profile-lawyer]family-of-abdirahman-abdi-retains-high-profile-lawyer

Lawrence Greenspon, a high-profile Ottawa criminal defence and civil litigation lawyer, was retained by the family of Abdirahman Abdi last Wednesday two days after Abdis death following an arrest involving two Ottawa police officers.

...

The local community has already rallied around the family in their time of grief both financially and emotionally.

A Go Fund Me page set up after Abdis death, initially to cover funeral expenses, has been expanded to fundraise for the familys legal costs the page has raised more than $19,000 so far.

-somali-moms-want-cops-taken-off-duty-pending-siu-probe

We are shocked and horrified by the violent killing of Abdirahman Abdi by Ottawa Police officers.

We are dismayed by the Ottawa Police Associations President, Matt Skofs irresponsible statements of victim blaming and his efforts to criminalise and vilify Abdirahman.

We demand that Chief Bordeleau immediately remove the two police officers involved in the killing of Abdirahman from our streets. We do not feel safe with them still patrolling the streets.

We are very closely watching the SIU and their investigation of the case. Nothing less than a thorough, fair and transparent investigation will satisfy us, and this includes making the report public.

Anti-black racism in the Canadian criminal justice system has been evident for many years. Black people are subjected to unnecessary and unjust surveillance and profiling. We are disproportionately subjected to the hostile and highly criticised practice of carding: black children as young as 12 years of age are carded on a regular basis.

.

Show me where this anti-black racism in the justice system is evident?

[capricorn]

Here are a couple of updates on this topic.

The Executive Director of the Somali Canadian Youth Centre has sent a statement in rebuttal to comments made at a "Justice for Abdirahman" coalition press conference on Thursday.

Faisal Jama says the Somali Community of Ottawa has a history of cooperation and mutual respect with authorities in the City of Ottawa, including the Ottawa Police, the Chair of the Police Services Board, Councillor El-Chantiry, and Mayor Watson.

----

He says it is premature to make allegations or accusations against any parties, directly contradicting statements made by the coalition on Thursday, alleging racism by Ottawa Police, and neglect of responsibilities by Mayor Watson.

Jama says these charges are unsubstantiated.

On behalf of the mainstream Somali Community, and the Somali Canadian Youth Centre Board, Mr. Jama calls for continued patience with authorities and respect for the process, in the spirit of the co-operative relationships that have been developed over many years.

http://www.cfra.com/news/2016/08/04/somali-community-calls-for-patience-and-cooperation

The owner of the coffee shop from where the 911 calls were made speaks out.

Clark said the events in her coffee shop have been made "invisible" and the experience for her employees and customers has not been acknowledged.

"There was a real minimization of what the staff or the customers in the store experienced, and ... that part, the staff describe it as a bit surreal, almost, because what happened in the store was an assault and an escalating situation where there really wasn't a choice and there were multiple calls to 911."

----

July 24 was not Abdi's first visit to that Bridgehead, which sits just three blocks away from his apartment building at 55 Hilda St., Clark said, and it wasn't the first time there was an incident involving him.

"He was a visitor to our store, and we were kind of aware of him, and there were some behaviours," Clark said.

"He would stand and stare at customers, or get a little bit too close, and we were beginning to hear from customers that it was making them feel uncomfortable. And so we had started to have those conversations where, 'Are you aware of this behaviour, could we ask you not to do that?' So there were some interventions like that that had taken place."

She did not say how many incidents occurred or when.

Clark did say that coffee shops attract all kinds of people and police are often called to deal with matters only as a last resort.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bridgehead-owner-speaks-abdirahman-abdi-1.3708589

As they say, there's two sides to a story.

[jacee]

Here are a couple of updates on this topic.

http://www.cfra.com/news/2016/08/04/somali-community-calls-for-patience-and-cooperation

The owner of the coffee shop from where the 911 calls were made speaks out.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bridgehead-owner-speaks-abdirahman-abdi-1.3708589

As they say, there's two sides to a story.

I have no doubt that the autistic Abdi 'stared' and 'got too close', etc. and those issues needed to be addressed.

That behaviour does not justify his death.

.

[capricorn]

I have no doubt that the autistic Abdi 'stared' and 'got too close', etc. and those issues needed to be addressed.

.

Allegedly, and according to the coffee shop owner, Adbi assaulted someone and the behaviour was escalating. That's by far more than just staring and getting too close to a person.

[poochy]

I have no doubt that the autistic Abdi 'stared' and 'got too close', etc. and those issues needed to be addressed.

That behaviour does not justify his death.

.

And no one said that he deserved to die, but other things obviously happened that required his arrest and restraint and that appears to have accidentally resulted in his death, which is unfortunate, but it isn't as your type wants to make it sound, like the police went out with intent to kill a black man. It's pretty disgusting that your type is so desperately trying to frame it that way.

Edited August 5, 2016 by poochy

[taxme]

Here are a couple of updates on this topic.

http://www.cfra.com/news/2016/08/04/somali-community-calls-for-patience-and-cooperation

The owner of the coffee shop from where the 911 calls were made speaks out.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bridgehead-owner-speaks-abdirahman-abdi-1.3708589

As they say, there's two sides to a story.

So true. There is always two sides to every story. But the Canadian liberal media always like to make it appear as though there is just the one side.

But here we go again. What is with this Somali Canadian Youth Center anyway? Why is there a Somali center anyway? Is it needed? Why do we always have to hear about or from this ethnic group or that ethnic group and what they have to say about whatever happens in their community? Why don't they just call themselves Canadian? Isn't that what they are suppose to be now, Canadian? I am offended and insulted when an immigrant from another country finds it hard to say, I am Canadian.

Again, it all comes down to this multiculturalism and it's program and agenda of telling new immigrants that they need not assimilate into Canadian culture. Just form your own little ghettoes and carry on business as usual from whence you came. It irks me to see that Canada has now become the world where no one really needs to have to join and blend in with the locals.

And what irks me more is that all politicians of levels of government do everything they can to make sure multiculturalism stays alive and kicking. There is not one politician anymore that will speak up for Canada, and it's values, it's morals, it's traditions, it'd culture or traditions. Excuse me for going a bit of topic here, but what the heck is going on in Canada today? I don't like what I am seeing.

Edited August 5, 2016 by taxme

[jacee]

And no one said that he deserved to die, but other things obviously happened that required his arrest and restraint and that appears to have accidentally resulted in his death, which is unfortunate, but it isn't as your type wants to make it sound, like the police went out with intent to kill a black man. It's pretty disgusting that your type is so desperately trying to frame it that way.

Police have killed quite a few handicapped people too because they don't understand and respond to commands normally.

I think that's an issue here too.

.

[jacee]

Allegedly, and according to the coffee shop owner, Adbi assaulted someone and the behaviour was escalating. That's by far more than just staring and getting too close to a person.

And they did something: They called the police this time.

He's autistic, maybe often socially inappropriate and doesn't understand/respond to verbal directions, and intervention may be needed.

But beating and death by police isn't an appropriate response.

Soon we'll know whether he died as a result of the head wounds from the police, maybe from the officer kneeling on his wounded bleeding head.

.

Edited August 6, 2016 by jacee

[Argus]

What is with this Somali Canadian Youth Center anyway? Why is there a Somali center anyway? Is it needed?

It must be. I posted about the attempt to gather money for it a few years ago, because in the Citizen article it mentioned that it was needed given more than half the 'young offenders' in custody in Ottawa were Somalis.

[Argus]

And they did: They called the police this time.

He's autistic, maybe often socially inappropriate

By 'socially inappropriate' do you mean 'asaults and sexually assaults people'?

and doesn't understand/respond to verbal directions,

By 'doesn't understand/respond to verbal directions' do you mean 'runs away and violently resists arrest while refusing to allow himself to be handcuffed'?

[Argus]

Police have killed quite a few handicapped people too because they don't understand and respond to commands normally.

I think that's an issue here too.

Correct. And that can be solved by housing people unable to live peacefully in society in psychiatric institutions.

[capricorn]

He's autistic, maybe often socially inappropriate and doesn't understand/respond to verbal directions, and intervention may be needed.

Yet, he held a job for 4 years and recently traveled to Somalia to get married. Sounds to me that Abdi understood verbal direction quite well. In fact, his ex-employer said he spoke better English than someone here for 30 years.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2850676/abdirahman-abdi-depressed-unemployed-before-confrontation-with-ottawa-police-former-boss/

[taxme]

It must be. I posted about the attempt to gather money for it a few years ago, because in the Citizen article it mentioned that it was needed given more than half the 'young offenders' in custody in Ottawa were Somalis.

If there are that many offenders in custody in Ottawa well that doesn't look good for that community or for Canada. Maybe what Canada should be doing for now is to stop all immigration from that country if this is going to continue from this community. If the taxpayer's are going to have to deal with these offenders and forced to foot the bill for these Somali offenders well maybe it is high time to take some kind of action. Personally, I think that Somali is probably not one of the best countries in the world to be getting our new immigrants from especially when we have all heard about the Somali pirates and their crimes that they have committed at sea. This is a country that I do not want to have anything to do with. Somalis appear to be a people Canada can do without.

Unfortunately for me our politicians in this country don't think like me, and the Somalis are lucky that I am not the Prime Minister. Instead our politicians prefer to just pussy foot around, and appear politically correct rather than say and do what needs to be done. We need more common sense and logic and tough love here, and not this constant emotional foolishness mentality that goes on. If it is our Canadian culture that they cannot adapt too or maybe it is because they cannot find work well maybe we just need to shut the border gates to all Somalis and be done with it. And if some of these offenders are not Canadian yet, then send them back to Somali. The Canadian taxpayer's don't need them here and wasting taxpayer's tax dollars on trying to cuddle up to them. Works for me.

[jacee]

By 'socially inappropriate' do you mean 'asaults and sexually assaults people'?

By 'doesn't understand/respond to verbal directions' do you mean 'runs away and violently resists arrest while refusing to allow himself to be handcuffed'?

Yes and yes.

Autistic and some other developmentally challenged people sometimes people do display such inappropriate behaviours.

In no situation, criminal or otherwise, are police justified in killing someone to prevent escape/allow detainment.

Only in self defense.

.

[Argus]

In no situation, criminal or otherwise, are police justified in killing someone to prevent escape/allow detainment.

Really? Suppose Paul Bernardo is escaping? Should police not shoot at his getaway car in hopes they catch him sometime later?

But in any event, it's not like the police TRIED to kill him, or WANTED to kill him. They were simply trying to get him under control.

[jacee]

Really? Suppose Paul Bernardo is escaping? Should police not shoot at his getaway car in hopes they catch him sometime later?

But in any event, it's not like the police TRIED to kill him, or WANTED to kill him. They were simply trying to get him under control.

There may be leeway when police have evidence (not just suspicion) that a fleeing suspect imminently intends to cause harm. But there are rules.

Repeated punches to the head when he was down?

Kneeling on his broken head?

Were those necessary?

Is that what killed him?

We can't determine these things yet.

.

[betsy]

Yes and yes.

Autistic and some other developmentally challenged people sometimes people do display such inappropriate behaviours.

In no situation, criminal or otherwise, are police justified in killing someone to prevent escape/allow detainment.

Only in self defense.

.

They say he's got mental issues. Is there real evidence that he has mental issues?

I find it quite a coincidence that the stabbing attack which happened in England a few days ago was perpetrated by a Norwegian-Somali origin. This Somali is also said to have mental issues.

I can't help but wonder because you can see the way media really diluted the incident. I am dubious about the media.

Edited August 7, 2016 by betsy