Two Vitoria-Gasteiz police officers have been convicted of using "disproportionate" force to detain a minor

The Provincial Court of Álavahas sentenced two local police officers in Vitoria-Gasteiz totwo counts of wounding a 16-year-old boy. The judge finds it proven that the officers used excessive violence to detain a minor boy who was on an electric scooter.

The events took place in March 2023 in the Zabalgana neighbourhood. In a prohibited area, the minor was travelling on an electric skateboard "at high speed" and was asked to stop by two local police officers on motorcycles. According to the car, the young man ignored and tried to flee. The skateboard was manipulated and could reach 41 kilometres per hour. 

After several minutes, they managed to stop the young man with "excessive violence , "according to the judge.

It has also been established in the sentence that it has not been proven that when the officers managed to catch the young man, he tried to escape or attack the officers, including the young man, who suffered a nose fracture. 

The sentence is not final and an appeal may be lodged with the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country.