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Crime scene in Mannheim on May 2nd
Photo: René Priebe / dpa
According to a media report, around seven months after a 47-year-old died during a police operation in Mannheim, the Mannheim public prosecutor's office brought charges against two police officers.
The authority accuses one of them of causing bodily harm while in office, writes the "Rheinpfalz" on Thursday.
He had acted with exaggerated harshness against the mentally ill man.
The public prosecutor's office accuses his colleague of negligent homicide by omission because he did not stop him.
The public prosecutor's office did not want to confirm the charges to SPIEGEL and referred to a press release on the case that is due to appear on Friday.
Investigations against doctor who did not intervene
In addition, according to the "Rheinpfalz" there are investigations against a doctor.
Shortly before the police operation, he asked officers in a nearby police station for help and drew attention to the man's situation.
He is also accused of negligent homicide by omission because he did not intervene.
Because of the fixation and nosebleeds caused by punches from one of the officers, the 47-year-old could no longer breathe.
He was tied up for six minutes and lying on his stomach on a street.
The man died during a police operation on May 2nd.
A doctor from the Central Institute for Mental Health in Mannheim had informed the police about a patient who needed help because of self-endangerment.
The police picked up the man in downtown Mannheim.
He is said to have resisted the officers.
Videos on social media showed an officer violently attacking the man, who collapsed.
Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the two police officers involved.
In September, an expert opinion found that the man died of unnatural causes.
kfr/AFP