The video circulating on the Internet is unambiguous. The scene apparently takes place this Thursday, March 28 in Villiers-le-Bel (Val-d'Oise) and the images show two uniformed police officers who deliver a series of punches to a young person during an intervention .
The sequence broadcast on the networks lasts 1 minute 37 and shows a police officer who controls a young person and walks towards three others already arrested, holding him firmly. While the young man does not seem to struggle, he takes a first punch in the face, then a second, a few meters further, in an alley of boxes.
Hit repeatedly
He is then pressed against a garage door, receives another blow before being put on the ground, while the second police officer arrives in turn. After being relieved, the second official in turn punched him in the stomach. The man doubles over in pain. The violence ends when the four young people are reunited.
🇫🇷 FLASH - Two police officers were filmed giving violent punches to the face and stomach, as well as applying a chokehold (banned since 2021) to a minor in Villiers-le-Bel. (witnesses) https://t.co/i949AAuoDM
— AlertsInfos (@AlertesInfos) March 29, 2024
As of this Friday morning, the Val-d'Oise police department was informed of the existence of the video. The two police officers involved were suspended by their superiors this Friday when the video began to go viral, the director general of the national police, Frédéric Veaux, told Le Parisien. A disciplinary procedure has been opened against the two officials who, according to our information, are stationed at the Sarcelles police station. Their mission during this arrest was not specified.
On the judicial level, criminal proceedings for violence by a person holding public authority have also been opened by the Pontoise public prosecutor's office, indicated this Friday evening the public prosecutor, Pierre Sennès. He specifies that the investigation entrusted to the ethics unit of the Interdepartmental Directorate of the National Police of Val-d'Oise (DIPN). This will have to determine the context of the arrest, and also the facts which took place before the video.