A local police intern from Rocafort, Valencia, punched a young Honduran man in the stomach and allegedly told him, “You are cool, you are all the same, I will send you to your country.” The victim, who was skateboarding on Burjassot street on October 17, was detained by several officers and has condemned the attack. The incident was captured by multiple neighbors on video.
In the footage, the young man does not resist as he is restrained and writhes in pain after the impact. Following the assault, officers reportedly issued penalties related to illegal residence and, in a separate matter, drug possession, which the young man denies possessing or using at all.
Rafael Ferrando, mayor of Rocafort, called the behavior unacceptable for the municipality and said a formal report would be filed with the police. He described the actions as intolerable and vowed appropriate follow-up. A local intern has been identified as the alleged attacker.
Early on October 17, JE was returning home on his skateboard after spending time with friends and observed police conducting sobriety tests on Mariano Ribera Street in Burjassot. According to his account, the officers stopped him, asked him to remove his helmet, and then questioned whether he carried anything that could pose a danger. He handed over a meat grinder stored in a fanny pack after being asked about it.
The victim explains that officers began to corner him; he grew angry at the perceived pressure and said the officer should speak plainly rather than forcing him. He stood with arms folded against a wall where the agent had pushed him. The same officer allegedly insulted him, saying he was “great” and that he would be sent back to his country. The officer also allegedly directed language toward Honduran children with whom the victim had interacted the previous day, insisting there was prior trouble and threatening violence if he did not comply. The victim later sought help from Valencia Acull’s Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination Program to report what happened.
The young man contends that, although calm on the surface as shown in the video, the officer delivered a quick motion with one hand, spread his arms, and struck him hard in the stomach. The blow left him gasping, writhing, and eventually vomiting. He asked for water from an officer but was allegedly ignored and criticized for his apparent neglect in a sarcastic tone.
Police sources noted that Rocafort officers were on the street because it bordered the town and Burjassot officers did not have a breathalyzer at that moment.
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After the detention, the man was released from the Burjassot Immigration Brigade on the same morning. He says he understood the procedure would involve irregular stay processing and possible deportation, according to his account. Neighbors who witnessed the incident later came down to see what had happened and shared their observations.
At the police station, the process reportedly included penalties ranging from 501 to 10,000 euros and potential enforcement under the Citizens’ Security Act 4/2015, commonly known as a tough public order law. The act penalizes certain drug-related behaviors. The young man maintains that he only had an empty grinder, which he was not attempting to conceal.
València Acull, the organization assisting the migrant, denounced what it describes as the consequences of detention under police control, including the risk of deportation, heavy fines, and seizure of passports. It argues that the sanction proposed for drug possession appeared to be a monthly recurring penalty that the victim did not receive during the incident and which he denies. The group called the episode a clear example of racism in police action.
València Acull also claims that police stopped a Spanish driver who appeared intoxicated, according to witnesses. They contend that the boy was struck and arrested more for appearance than for any real violation, merely because he was listening to music on headphones while skateboarding. The organization insists that, even if the individual addressed officers rudely, the beating was unjustified, and the man did not resist or threaten anyone. In their view, the underlying motive appears to be racism and violence in law enforcement actions in that area.
Throughout the case, the victim and Valencia Acull emphasize that the core issue is not resisting or threatening behavior but the treatment he received during policing. The case continues to be a focal point in discussions about how police interventions are conducted in multicultural communities, and it highlights concerns about fairness, dignity, and human rights in public safety operations.