A shocking scene unfolded on the streets of Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain, last month when an off-duty police officer fatally restrained a man accused of stealing his phone — and it was all caught on camera.
The disturbing footage shows the 58-year-old officer, dressed in plain clothes, pinning the alleged thief to the ground with an arm locked tightly around his neck. As bystanders pleaded with him — “Please let him breathe, the police are almost here!” — the officer didn’t let up. Moments later, the man stopped moving.
When police finally arrived, the 35-year-old suspect, Abderrahim, a Moroccan man recently released from prison, had gone into cardiac arrest. Despite paramedics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Early reports suggest he died by strangulation, though an autopsy will confirm the exact cause of death.
On July 4, the official cause of death was said to be anoxia. The officer, who had reportedly been out drinking with a friend (also an off-duty cop), has since been arrested. A judge has requested he undergo a breathalyzer test as part of the investigation.
The officer was released the following day and still receives his salary.
Left-Wing Groups Demand Justice After Fatal Off-Duty Cop Chokehold in Spain
What’s making this even more explosive? Accusations of racial profiling and excessive force. Left-wing political parties in Madrid have called the death a potential act of racist police violence, demanding a full investigation. One group even labeled it a “killing by asphyxiation” and called for protests this weekend.
On social media, the video is sparking a firestorm. Many users compared the incident to the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the U.S., noting the eerie similarity — a man dying under a chokehold while bystanders begged for mercy. “A phone isn’t worth a life,” one person wrote. “This is disgusting.”
The tragedy is also bringing back painful memories of past police-related deaths in Spain — particularly the 2018 case of Mame Mbaye Ndiaye, a Senegalese street vendor who died after a police chase in Madrid. That case led to violent protests across the capital.
As the story continues to unfold, public anger is boiling over, and questions are mounting: Was deadly force necessary? Was race a factor? And will justice be served?
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