The image of what happened in Torrejón de Ardoz already has consequences. The municipal police officer who immobilized and ultimately suffocated a young Maghrebi man has been brought before a judge, and the Madrid City Council has opened a disciplinary proceeding against him and removed him from active duty. Telemadrid has been able to speak with the family of the deceased, who are in shock and broken with grief over what happened. They are demanding explanations for the death of their family member and demanding justice.
Municipal police officer arrested after accidentally suffocating a thief while restraining him in Torrejón de Ardoz
«Let him go, you’re going to kill him, you’re going to suffocate him.» These were the cries of the neighbors who witnessed the moment when a municipal police officer in Madrid was restraining a young Maghrebi man who had attempted to rob him in Torrejón de Ardoz.
My son is mentally ill – he has had psychiatric problems since he was 7 years old. They say he had stolen. I agree, but they should detain him, wait for justice. Now my son is already dead.
These were the last minutes of Abderrahim, 36 years old, and two days later, his father and brother recall them with a mix of pain and indignation: «My son is mentally ill – he has had psychiatric problems since he was 7 years old. They say he had stolen. I agree, but they should detain him, wait for justice. Now my son is already dead,» the devastated father tells Telemadrid.
Madrid City Council opens disciplinary proceeding against the police officer for the death of a thief in Torrejón
The brother of the deceased young man confirms on camera that he had psychiatric problems: «He had medical records and was taking medication until today. He had a criminal record, it’s true, but one thing is to commit a theft and another is to end up like this.»
One of the witnesses of the fatal immobilization recounts the final moments: «He was very pale, very purple.»
