Man Dies During Police Arrest in Rotterdam After Being Wrongly Suspected of Theft

A 51 year old man named Alfredo Goeloe died during a police arrest in Rotterdam over the weekend. The Rotterdam police confirmed that Goeloe was innocent and was not riding a stolen bicycle. The incident occurred after officers stopped Goeloe on a fatbike following a report of theft. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the man did not have an identity card and resisted arrest after an officer attempted an identity search.

Verified video footage shows two officers struggling to restrain the man while he screamed in pain and stated that he had diabetes. Two additional officers later arrived and grabbed him by the legs. The man became unwell and died despite resuscitation efforts. The National Police Internal Investigations Department is currently investigating the police conduct. Rotterdam police chief Tolga Koklu described the event as very impactful but declined to speculate on whether the officers' actions contributed to the death, noting that video footage does not always tell the whole story.

Hundreds of people participated in a silent march and protests on Monday to mourn Goeloe and voice opposition to police violence. Family members and neighbors gathered at the scene and marched toward the Zuidplein police station. While a center lean source emphasizes the innocence of the victim and the specific medical circumstances, a center left lean source focuses on the resulting protests.