Aruban man's death likely caused by police, 5 cops suspected

Aruban arrestee Mitch Henriquez likely died from a lack of oxygen. This was likely caused by the actions of police officers during his arrest on Saturday. Five police officers are suspected of involvement in Henriquez' death.

This is according to Kitty Nooy, chief prosecutor at the Public Prosecutor in The Hague, in a press conference with Mayor Jozias van Aartsen and The Hague police on Wednesday, NU reports. Police chief Paul van Musscher confirmed that the five officers have been suspended.

According to Justice, no other explanations have been found for the oxygen deficiency. And according to the preliminary results of the autopsy, no natural causes were found for Henriquez' death. "At this time there is also no signs that there was drug- or excessive alcohol consumption", Nooy said.

Henriquez was arrested at the Night at the Park music festival in The Hague on Saturday. He passed away in hospital on Sunday. The Rijksrecherche, the State Investigation Department that handles internal investigations, announced shortly after his death that they have started an independent investigation. Nooy said at the press conference that Henriquez was arrested after he shouted several times that he had a weapon. "Violence was used, because he resisted", Nooy said.

Mayor Van Artsen called Henriquez' death "tragic and shocking".

The incident sent shock waves through The Hague community. There were demonstrations and riots in the Schilderswijk neighborhood on Monday and Tuesday night. Sixteen people were arrested after the riots on Monday. The police made 11 more arrests on Tuesday night.