A court in Benidorm has sentenced a Valencia National Police inspector to three months in prison for assaulting two local officers during a confrontation with a taxi driver in Benidorm. The judge also ruled that the inspector is responsible for two minor injury offenses. Each minor offense carries an additional month of confinement at a daily rate of 6 euros.
The events took place in August 2018 when local police responded to an incident involving the inspector and taxi drivers in an area of Benidorm frequented by English-speaking visitors. The inspector, who was then serving in one of the UIP units of the Valencia National Police, became involved after a dispute with a taxi driver. During the incident, two municipal officers sustained minor injuries while attempting to manage the situation. After the altercation, the three men left the scene in a taxi, and tensions escalated when they were informed the vehicle was not on duty. The ensuing argument included aggressive comments directed at the on-duty official who had called for police assistance.
According to the court’s findings, the defendant had recently consumed alcohol, which affected his cognitive and volitional faculties but did not completely erase his capacity to act. The court noted that the inspector refused multiple requests to calm the situation and identified himself as a member of the National Police Service in Valencia as the case progressed.
During the confrontation, the inspector demanded the taxi driver’s license plate number and waved his phone as the exchange continued. He then collided with a local officer, causing the officer to fall to the ground. The judge found that the assault was intended to inflict physical harm and demonstrated a flagrant disregard for police authority. The defender resisted intervention by colleagues, who employed only the minimum force necessary to restrain him.
Witness testimony from 2018, including statements from the taxi driver, described the inspector as erratic and verbally abusive. The driver recounted being subjected to insults and aggressive actions, including punches directed at the taxi’s bonnet and hostile language. The driver indicated he planned to alert authorities after the incident. These statements contributed to the court’s assessment of the inspector’s behavior on that day.
The court also noted corroborative video captured at a local health center where the inspector received treatment after the incident. The judge commented that the footage shows the inspector admitting to striking a uniformed officer while waiting for medical attention, without coercion or a breach of fundamental rights.
In summary, the court found the defendant guilty of attacking law enforcement officers and of two counts of minor assault. The sentence consists of three months and one day in prison, the loss of passive voting rights, and the payment of court costs. The two counts of minor assault carry the same confinement terms, with an additional 180 euros in costs as part of the judicial decision.