32-year-old man dies after arrest with stun gun in Rotterdam

A 32-year-old man who was arrested on the 's-Gravenweg in Rotterdam on Friday night has died. The police rushed to the scene after a report of a confused person and brought the man under control with a stun gun. "Shortly after, the arrested man became unwell," the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said.

Around 11:15 p.m., officers received a report that a man in a confused state had jumped onto a vehicle. After a brief chase, the stun gun was used.

The police resuscitated him, but the 32-year-old man died overnight in the hospital. The Rijksrecherche is investigating whether the arrest is related to the man’s death. The organization investigates all use of violence by police officers in the course of their work.

According to the OM, an autopsy will be performed and toxicological research will be carried out to gain insight into the cause of the 32-year-old’s death. The Rijksrecherche is part of the Public Prosecution Service and the investigation is led by a public prosecutor.

In 2022, there were more incidents in which officers used force, a total of 33,584 times in 20,667 incidents. This was announced last month. Police said at the time that the large number of incidents involving confused people could be a cause.

Police Chief Frank Paauw, who is also in charge of conflict and crisis management, said he was concerned about the need to use force against vulnerable people. "Taking care of them is usually not a police task, because many confused people who come into contact with police are not or hardly a nuisance, criminal or dangerous."

Stun guns were used as a weapon a total of 4,414 times last year. Paauw is pleased with the device, calling it a "valuable addition" last month.