Police officer convicted of assault after body search turned violent in Lanzarote
A local police officer in Arrecife has been convicted of assault after using excessive force during a search at a concert in Lanzarote. The case relates to an incident during the Lava Live Fest in July 2024 and raises concerns about conduct during public events.
The ruling was issued by a court in Arrecife, which found the officer guilty of a minor injury offence after exceeding the “minimum and necessary” use of force. The court heard how the officer escorted the man to a bathroom at the Ciudad Deportiva venue to carry out an identification check and search.
Once inside, the officer pushed the man against a wall, restrained him and hit him several times with an open hand to the head. The blows caused a piercing to be torn out, and the victim was also punched in the side.
Medical reports confirmed the man suffered multiple injuries, including severe headaches, a torn ear, swelling to the nasal septum and muscle strain, as well as anxiety. He required treatment for a month and was unable to carry out normal daily activities for five days.
The defence argued the case should be dismissed as too much time had passed before proceedings began. However, the court rejected this, stating that an administrative error over the officer’s name did not invalidate the process and that legal actions taken during the investigation had interrupted the time limit.
The officer was fined just over €1,200 and ordered to pay €1,247 in compensation to the victim. The ruling, issued on 14th April, is not yet final and can be appealed to the Provincial Court of Las Palmas.
If no appeal is lodged, the sentence will become enforceable within ten days. In the event of non-payment, the court warned that custody measures could be imposed in place of unpaid fines.
