VIDEO: Kicked a police officer, bit another, tore the commander's shirt, says Investigative Committee

A citizen has been charged with threatening the life of another citizen, committing violence against police officers, and engaging in hooliganism. A criminal case has also been initiated regarding the evident violence against him at the Shengavit Police Station. This was reported by the Investigative Committee.

"An investigation is underway to comprehensively clarify the hooliganism perpetrated by the citizen at the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia in Shengavit, the violence against the legal service activities of police officers, the threat of using a knife against a citizen, as well as the circumstances under which police officers allegedly abused their official powers or related influence with violence," the statement reads.

Based on a report received from a police officer on August 30, criminal proceedings have been initiated in the Shengavit administrative district of the Investigative Committee under Articles 194 (part 1), 297 (part 1), and 452 (part 3) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. It was revealed that on that day, around 1:40 AM, the police officers on duty detained a man on Tamantsin Street in Yerevan, who posed a reasonable suspicion of carrying a cold weapon and posing an immediate threat to the life and health of others. This man had previously failed to comply with the lawful demands of law enforcement authorities after parking his car in front of the police department.

Upon entering the police department, the citizen began to exhibit aggressive behavior, swearing, kicking one of the police officers, biting another, and tearing the commander's shirt. Seeing that the man continued to behave aggressively and made erratic movements, presumably to harm himself, a police officer attempted to calm him down.

The citizen then requested that the handcuffs be removed to drink water and wash, and taking advantage of the moment when his hands were free, he unexpectedly hit a window in the hallway, breaking it, which caused injury to his hand. First aid was provided, and an ambulance was called; he was taken to the hospital.

Following necessary measures, the identity of the man was established, who is a 45-year-old resident of Hrazdan city. A decision has been made to arrest him.

The prosecuting authority has submitted a motion to the prosecutor overseeing the proceedings for public criminal prosecution against the 45-year-old man under Articles 194 (part 1), 297 (part 1), and 452 (part 3) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, which was granted and charges were filed against him. A motion is being filed with the court to select detention as a preventive measure.

During the investigation, the man reported that one of the patrol officers had made threats against him while bringing him to the station, and that several police officers had hit him with their hands and feet inside the police department. During this incident, according to the detainee, he hit the police officers in self-defense, resulting in him hitting the police station window with his hand and face, which broke and injured his hand. Reports of violence against the mentioned citizen by police officers have also been received from the detainee's attorney.

Based on these reports, a criminal case has been initiated under Article 441 (part 2, point 1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia at the Shengavit administrative district of the Investigative Committee. A forensic medical examination has been appointed to clarify the circumstances of the citizen's injuries. A decision has been made to seize the recordings from the CCTV cameras attached to the patrol officers and those present at the Shengavit Police Department.

The issue of the alleged abusive exercise of police powers, in relation to the police officers involved, has been separated into an independent proceeding and sent to the Torture and Violence Investigation Department of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia for examination.

Measures are being taken to clarify all circumstances of the incident, including verifying the legality of the actions of the police officers and providing a legal assessment of their actions," the statement concludes. Remember, Daniel Ioannisyan previously reported that the patrol officers had beaten a citizen. The police had issued a clarification regarding the incident.