The chief of staff of the prefect of Loire-Atlantique in office in June 2019 was indicted for "manslaughter" after the drowning of Steve Maia Caniço during the music festival in Nantes.
The town hall of Nantes and Nantes Métropole have also been placed under the status of assisted witness.
The chief of staff of the Loire-Atlantique prefect in office in June 2019 was indicted on Thursday for "manslaughter" after the drowning of Steve Maia Caniço, 24, during a controversial police intervention in Nantes at the occasion of the music festival.
Currently sub-prefect of Sables d'Olonne, Johann Mougenot was indicted by the judge in charge of the case, said the Rennes public prosecutor, Philippe Astruc, on Friday, confirming information from the regional press.
In this investigation, the divisional commissioner Grégoire Chassaing, in charge of the police system during the 2019 music festival in Nantes, was indicted for manslaughter.
Another commissioner, Thierry Palermo, was placed under the status of assisted witness.
The mayor of Nantes summoned
The town hall of Nantes and Nantes Métropole have also been placed under the status of assisted witness as legal persons. The town hall of Nantes had been implicated in the death of the extracurricular facilitator due to the absence of barriers on part of the Wilson quay, property of the Grand Maritime Port, therefore of the State, where this festival was taking place. A barrier had however been installed nearby, Quai des Antilles, as well as on the parking lot of Quai Wilson.
Steve Maia Caniço had disappeared after a police operation intended to put an end to an electro evening during the Music Festival on the banks of the Loire.
His body was found in the river more than a month later.
A report from the General Inspectorate of Administration (IGA) criticized "a lack of discernment" on the part of Commissioner Chassaing.
Six natural persons and two legal persons were summoned by the investigating judge in this case, by the end of September.
In addition to the two police officers and the director of the prefect's cabinet, already heard, they are the mayor (PS) of Nantes Johanna Rolland, his former security assistant Gilles Nicolas and the former prefect of Loire-Atlantique Claude from Harcourt.