The fate of three French police officers caught on video beating a man is under review.
The trio’s case is in the hands of an oversight board following calls for their dismissal by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
“If the judiciary finds wrongdoing, I will ask for the release of the three police officers,” Darmanin said on Thursday, adding that they would have tarnished the country’s reputation.
The officers have been suspended following the incident, which happened on Saturday.
According to the magazine Loopsider, Michel, a music producer, was outside without a mask, as required by coronavirus rules, when he saw a police car. To avoid detection, he slipped into his production studio.
Surveillance cameras inside showed the officers following and beating the man for multiple minutes in the entrance area.
Michel, who is black, said they also used racial epithets.
“I didn’t understand what was happening,” he told Loopsider, adding that he wondered if the men were actual officers.
Crying for help, he eventually drew the attention of some musicians working in the basement.
Subsequent video footage shows the officers being forced from the studio, whereupon they shoot a tear gas grenade inside and call for backup.
The police told Loopsider Michel, whom photos showed was badly injured in the incident, had been violent.
“Luckily, we have this video,” said Michel’s lawyer.
The incident comes against the backdrop of proposed legislation that would limit the right of French citizens to take video recordings of police officers.
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday after sustained criticism an independent commission would work on reformulating the controversial legislation.❐
