Paris police allegedly pummeled a black music producer and dropped racial slurs before arresting him for not wearing a mask in public, the victim claims.
Michel Zecler says the alleged attack — which was caught on camera — happened Saturday in the city’s 17th arrondissement, France24 reported.
The video shows the officers repeatedly punching Zecler and using batons on him inside a studio.
Police said the arrest was prompted by Zecler not wearing a mask on the street in violation of Paris’ COVID-19 restrictions.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin suspended the four officers who were allegedly involved, saying he’d ask for their “dismissal” if warranted.
The recorded beatdown — which made its rounds on French news site Loopsider on Thursday — comes after President Emmanuel Macron pushed a new bill restricting the ability to film and post videos of police activity, France24 said.
Security camera footage shows three of the officers following Zecler on the street into his studio.
In a declaration, the officers said Zecler seemed “nervous” and that a “strong drug smell” was emanating from him. They also accused him of getting “dangerous” toward them.
Zecler claimed the officers used racial slurs as they beat him.
“People who must protect me are attacking me … I did nothing to deserve this,” he said. “I just want these three people to be punished by the law.”
The officers, meanwhile, accused Zecler of striking them first, which the video does not show.
Zecler’s lawyer Hafida El Ali said nine others inside the studio were also attacked and officers tossed a tear gas grenade into the studio to get them out.
“Outside they are still beaten up and thrown to the ground and that’s the moment when a police officer sees they are being filmed,” she said. Then the violence stops.
El Ali also denied her client ever got violent.
“My client never committed any violence against the police… He did not even defend himself,” she said.
The police officers’ actions are being investigated by the Paris prosecutor’s office, which said it dropped charges against Zecler.
With Post wires
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November 28, 2020 at 02:22AM
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