Authorities in Seine-Saint-Denis apprehended a police officer for physically assaulting a teenager, an incident which left the Paris police chief visibly displeased.
A police officer in Saint-Denis, France, has found himself under investigation following an incident in which he is accused of assaulting a young man. The incident was captured on video and has since been widely shared on social media.
According to reports, the officer, whose identity remains unspecified in the provided search results, slapped and spat on a 22-year-old named Theo, after the group they were patrolling was checked. The punch was not reported in earlier accounts of the incident.
The incident occurred alongside another officer, who did not intervene during the punch. The second officer also has no prior disciplinary record.
The video shows the officer involved punching Theo, and also spitting on him. The young man was being kept at bay by the police while two other men were being arrested.
Laurent Nuñez, the French Minister of the Interior, has requested an administrative investigation into the incident. He expressed his displeasure that the images of the incident give ammunition to those who criticize the police.
The investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Inspectorate General of the National Police (IGPN). The IGPN has stated that the investigation will be thorough and impartial.
In addition, the prosecutor's office in Bobigny has also announced an investigation for "violence by a public authority figure" in relation to the punch.
Laurent Nuñez has also mentioned that some members of the group were under judicial control and were forbidden to associate with each other. He did not clarify if Theo was one of these individuals.
This incident is not the first time that the police have faced criticism for their conduct. In the past, there have been numerous reports of excessive force and abuse of power by police officers in France. The French government has pledged to address these issues and improve relations between the police and the public.
As the investigation into the Saint-Denis incident continues, it remains to be seen what the outcome will be and whether any actions will be taken against the officer involved.
