Officer wounded while making arrest

A police officer got wounded Thursday afternoon when he attempted to arrest a man in Eindhoven. Police say the officer went to a house at Slagerstraat, where the suspect was spotted. The unnamed man had violated conditions the Prosecutor’s Office had placed him under; what these conditions were is not clear. When the officer tried to arrest him he fought back, hitting and kicking at the policeman and finally smashing a glass against his head. He suffered a gash to his head and was taken to a hospital where he received 39 stitches. He also had bruises to arms and legs. The policeman did not have to stay overnight at the hospital. The suspect had meanwhile escaped, running over the rooftops and crossing gardens of nearby houses, but he was arrested around 7.00pm, hiding in a shed at Eindhovense Bakker straat. As they were patting him down officers found two knives under his clothes. He remains in custody. Police stressed that aggression against its officers in unacceptable. “Police officers play a role of responsibility in our community and should be allowed to do their job without hinder and with mutual respect. Aggression and violence against them is not tolerated,” police said in a statement, adding that incidents in which its officers suffer violent treatment are handled with priority. Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten announced earlier this year that fines, community service and prison sentences for violence directed at people in public duty will be increased by 200 percent.