21-Year-Old’s Violent Arrest Sparks Police Brutality Outcry

Nygel Jésus Valentin Ryo Beerjeraz, a mere 21 years of age, has become the focal point of a distressing narrative that has resurfaced the debate surrounding police brutality. A video, which has circulated widely since Wednesday 30th April evening, depicted the young man bloodied and battered, forcibly extracted from a vehicle and dragged along the asphalt by a group of individuals identified as police officers.

The circumstances leading to this shocking scene are rooted in a family dispute. Nygel is accused of stealing his grandfather’s car, a 69-year-old resident of Albion, who reported the vehicle missing to the police on Tuesday, 29 April.

The elderly man, suspecting his grandson, promptly visited the police station to lodge a complaint. Following this alert, a police operation was swiftly initiated.

It was not until the following day, Wednesday 30th April, that the stolen vehicle was located in Karo Kalyptus by the Divisional Crime Intelligence Unit (DCIU) Metro North.

As the video has ignited outrage among netizens, a preliminary report from investigators suggests that the situation escalated when Nygel realised he had been spotted.

A high-speed chase ensued between the DCIU officers and Nygel along the road leading to the Muslim cemetery, resulting in damage to several parked vehicles.

According to police accounts, the pursuit concluded with the DCIU intercepting the vehicle, leading to Nygel’s immediate apprehension. He sustained injuries to his nose and forehead, attributed to the impact of his escape attempt.

Subsequently, he was reportedly taken to Dr Jeetoo Hospital by DCIU officers before being returned to the police station and placed in a cell.

However, a conflicting police report has emerged, casting doubt on the initial narrative.

This document claims that it was, in fact, the DSU Metro North who transported the suspect to the hospital at the request of their colleagues following the chase.

Upon their arrival, the DSU officers allegedly found Nygel lying on the ground near the Sada shop, his face covered in blood.

In stark contrast to the first report, this account asserts that no incidents were recorded and that the vehicle was recovered in good condition.

At this juncture, an investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances surrounding the car theft, the reckless driving, the damage inflicted on other vehicles, and the suspect’s flight.

Notably absent from this inquiry, however, is any mention of an investigation into the methods employed by the police during this operation, which has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly in light of the viral videos that have surfaced.

An attorney has remarked, “When the force used is disproportionate to the objective pursued, we can speak of a violation of human rights, particularly in terms of inhumane or degrading treatment.”

Attempts to secure an official response from the police have proven fruitless.

This incident evokes memories of police brutality cases that came to light in 2020, also exposed through viral footage.

Repeated efforts to contact the grandfather of the young man, who was so brutally treated, have gone unanswered.

It is worth noting that Nygel Jésus Valentin Ryo Beerjeraz is also wanted in connection with four other theft cases and for breaching the conditions of his conditional release.

Furthermore, the owners of the vehicles damaged during the operation have approached the police to file complaints.

Source: l’Express