Man tries to strangle cop during Carnival arrest

A 30-year-old man from Velsen-Noord is being charged with attempted manslaughter after he tried to strangle a police officer who was trying to arrest him at Carnival in Roosendaal on Sunday morning.

Around 00:30 a.m. on Sunday two police officers on Markt in Roosendaal noticed the man bothering some young women at an outdoor bar in front of a cafe, the police said in a statement. He hit and kicked the table they were sitting at.

One of the officers addressed the man on his behavior and asked to see his identity card. The man refused, even after being warned that he will be arrested. When the officer tried to arrest the man, the suspect managed to get his arm around the officer's neck and started choking him. Several officers rushed to his aid and tried to pull the man off of him. The officer eventually managed to tear himself loose and take a breath, regaining his senses, the police said.

After a struggle, the police eventually managed to handcuff the man. "Even the use of pepper spray had no effect on his resistance." The suspect was transferred to a police cell complex for questioning. A breathalyzer test and drug test revealed that he was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. He is being charged with attempted manslaughter.

The strangled officer was checked over by a doctor at the police station. He walked away from the incident with a torn muscle in his calf, a stiff neck, and a hoarse voice, according to the police. Another officer was treated for a head injury.