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National

Cops probed for beating handicapped driver

Published: 4 Apr 11 10:19 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/32998/20110404/

A Swedish prosecutor has opened an investigation concerning police officers alleged to have dragged a partially handicapped man from his car, calling him an "idiot" and a "druggie", and having erased his phone of the evidence.

Mats Hansson, 44, who suffered debilitating injuries in a motorcycle crash in 2001, was on his way to the physiotherapist when he was pulled over last Tuesday by a police vehicle in central Gothenburg.

After Hansson had parked his Mercedes by the road side he was ordered to get out, later finding out that he stood accused of having run a red light.

Hansson said that he was not allowed to take his crutches, which he needs to be able to walk, and was slammed against the side of the police vehicle with his arms twisted in a lock behind his back, according to a report in the GT/Expressen daily.

Furthermore Hansson alleges that he was kneed in his leg, which has a partial prosthetic implant, causing him excruciating pain. He also claimed that on the way to the police station he was called an "idiot" and accused of being on drugs.

He furthermore had his driving licence revoked and had the contents of his mobile phone erased when he attempted to record the interaction with the officers.

The 44-year-old has denied that he drove through a red light, claiming that it was amber, and a later blood test showed no trace of drugs.

The matter has now been taken up by Per Lind at the Swedish National Police Crimes Unit (Riksenheten för polismål) after Hansson filed a report with the Gothenburg police.

While Hansson told the newspaper that he was pessimistic of the officers being disciplined, his lawyer Ann Bark argued:

"The police can not behave like this, it inspires no confidence among the public."

TT/Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se

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11:22 April 4, 2011 by IntricateMind
Yes!!! Freakin idiot foreigner druggies! KIck ass!!!
12:15 April 4, 2011 by Nemesis
The police in this case should be locked up and the key thrown away.
12:26 April 4, 2011 by RobinHood
Since a wacko Stockholm judge said a couple of weeks ago it was OK for police to beat members of the public (as long as they don't hurt them too badly), this sort of stuff is being reported by the Local quite frequently.

Would a proper judge please quickly issue a correction, review all these cases and sack the lunatic judge who has no place in the law enforcement industry.

Honestly, since nice Mr Reinfeldt stood up in Parliament and said Swedish justice was "fair", prosecutors, police and judges seem to be trying as hard as they can to prove him wrong.
12:37 April 4, 2011 by bravo96
They should be Fired immediately!
12:40 April 4, 2011 by Brtahan
The problem is that the police are locals so they should make a law to bring officers from different states , Eq from an officer umea to work in stockholm for few years and same to other places , why? because these develop strong relation with their chefs and politicians because they might be childhood friends like the story we read before about a police helping a friend escaping being caught by other officers on duty , Police who are found guilty of this behaviours should removed from their post!
12:44 April 4, 2011 by eppie
Very hard te believe.

Swedish police never does anything against car drivers.

If this is true he was probably teh first swede in a decade who was fined for running a red light.
14:40 April 4, 2011 by saraswed
another polis beating someone up again.last time i taught its ok to increase thier pay even though where i live they dont do anything at all.just patrol around dring friday and saturday nights and hugging people and smiling.they wouldnt respond to emergency.now they beat up this.they should pay for it and know how its feels to be on the other side of the law
16:38 April 4, 2011 by darky
Yeah. These Gothenburg Police are very nasty. They threatened me a lot last year while driving at night. Always on the main roads while there are thieves and rapists in the quarters. One told me I had a bad memory because I did not recognise him claiming it was him who stopped me about 1½week before.
16:43 April 4, 2011 by Swedesmith
If this truly happened, these officers should seek a new line of work.
17:23 April 4, 2011 by bravo96
Also, they should be arrested, and then they should then be 'probed' in prison : )
19:16 April 4, 2011 by Rick Methven
@Swedesmith

Nightclub bouncer comes to mind
20:58 April 4, 2011 by DJECKY
I think this is not a police state,,these boyz in Uniform thinks that when they are in that govnt uniform its thier family waer,or job.,But one day some person some where will removed thier 32 from thier mouth b4 they will know that Mike Tyson is still alive.
08:17 April 5, 2011 by Rishonim
There are always a few bad apples in every police force.
10:13 April 5, 2011 by amir1106
I love reading local.... few comments . by swedish people.... reflects there internal hate and racism. they dont think about the topic...just start commenting and throw there hate out... i love local... its now a news website...its pure reflection of swedish mentality..
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