A new element in the investigation into the death of Cédric Chouviat during his arrest in January 2020. According to a report from the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), in charge of the investigation into the death of the delivery man, the one of the officers performed a “rear strangulation” shortly before the 42-year-old man was suffocated.
In a briefing note on the investigation, dated June 17 and which was revealed on Tuesday by Liberation and Mediapart, IGPN investigators believe that "after Mr. Chouviat has repeatedly called him a" puppet "And announced his intention to file a complaint against him," the team leader "had brought him to the ground mainly through a rear choke, according to sources."
This police officer was indicted for "manslaughter" like two other members of the crew, while a policewoman was placed under the intermediate status of assisted witness.
Cédric Chouviat has repeatedly said "I'm suffocating"
Cédric Chouviat, a 42-year-old delivery man, felt unwell during this police check on January 3 near the Eiffel Tower, during which he was pinned to the ground with his helmet on his head. Taken in critical condition to hospital, he died on January 5. According to the first elements of the autopsy unveiled by the Paris prosecutor's office, the doctors found in this man asphyxia with "fracture of the larynx" as well as "a previous cardiovascular state". A judicial investigation has been opened.
As this summary reminds us, very quickly after the start of his arrest, Cédric Chouviat repeatedly affirmed "I am suffocating", words that the police say they did not hear.
The "rear throttle" not mentioned in the initial intervention report
However, the IGPN noted that it was only "at the end of a relatively long period of hesitation", after "the awareness of Mr. Chouviat's discomfort", that the police officers "provoked the rescue, detached and de-cluttered the injured, then implemented a cardiac massage for his benefit ”. Regarding this cardiac massage, the delay is estimated at three minutes.
In their initial report of the intervention, dated the day of the incident and signed by the policewoman in the name of the four members of the crew, the police officers did not mention this "rear choke". They also wrote that after having "noticed" that Cédric Chouviat's face had turned "blue", they "immediately" removed the handcuffs, his helmet and provided first aid.
- Police
- Police violence
- Delivery man
- Society
- Paris