A distressing incident in Torrejón de Ardoz has led to the arrest of a police officer. A 36-year-old man of Maghrebi origin died on Tuesday night after being subdued by two off-duty Madrid municipal police officers following an alleged violent robbery. One of the officers involved has been arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide.
The Events Unfold: What Happened at the Pesquera and Calderas Intersection?
Around 11:30 PM, several individuals notified emergency services (112) about a violent robbery. Two individuals of Maghrebi origin reportedly stole a mobile phone and other personal belongings from a man in Torrejón. Upon the arrival of National Police and local police patrols, one of the alleged perpetrators was already held on the ground.
Two off-duty municipal police officers from Madrid, aged 58 and 60, one of whom was already retired, had restrained the suspect until reinforcements arrived. A video circulating in connection with the incident shows one of the officers lying on the ground, seemingly intoxicated, while his partner holds the alleged thief down.
Cause of Death: Asphyxiation by Chokehold
After the suspect was restrained, officers noted that he was unresponsive and in poor condition. SUMMA 112 medical personnel rushed to the scene and attempted to resuscitate him, but they could only confirm his death due to strangulation.
Initial reports suggest that one of the officers, while attempting to restrain the alleged thief, caused his death by holding him by the neck. Eyewitnesses indicated that the suspect did not stop resisting and attempted to attack the officers, who used a maneuver involving holding his neck to immobilize him, which ultimately had tragic consequences.
Ongoing Investigation and Police Union’s Demands
The area was immediately cordoned off, and forensic police agents began inspecting the scene. Surveillance camera footage from the vicinity is also being reviewed to clarify what happened. The duty judge ordered alcohol tests to be conducted on both officers involved in the intervention.
The United Municipal Police Association (APMU) expressed its regret over the death of the suspect. At the same time, it strongly appealed for the involved officers not to be “lynched” on social media without knowing the results of the autopsy and the full investigation. The APMU criticized that “this useless death could have been avoided if repeat offenders were not freely moving in our cities.” This highlights the ongoing debate about repeat offenders and the security situation in Spain.
