The sequence of events surrounding a police identification and the subsequent arrest has prompted questions about how officers assess potential narcotics involvement. In Zaragoza, a young woman sought to swallow a marijuana bud during a routine check, while a national police officer attempted to intervene. The confrontation escalated, culminating in the officer sustaining a bite to the hand. On a recent occasion, the 6th Criminal Court of Zaragoza reviewed the matter and accepted a six-month prison sentence for the defendant on charges of assault against a law enforcement officer.
According to the terms of the agreed disposition reached among the prosecution, the defense, and the special prosecutor’s office, led by Marco Antonio Navarro, the representative of the Jupol union, the judge authorized a set of penalties. These included a fine of 90 euros, a daily fine of three euros for one month, and a compensation payment of 2,840 euros for damages. The officer who was injured also received follow-up medical attention due to possible exposure concerns, including post-exposure prophylaxis. The incident led to a temporary removal from duty of the officer involved, who was unable to serve for a total of 38 days while recovery and related precautions were performed.
The events trace back to the early hours of the night on September 21, 2021, around 11:30 p.m., when a unit from the Aragon Police Headquarters, within the Citizen Security Brigade, was dispatched to Paseo Fernando el Catholic to monitor a group gathered near a bank branch. Upon arrival, the area appeared quiet, but the officers observed certain characteristics that linked the scene to individuals who had been seen nearby shortly before. The group’s behavior raised concerns about potential disturbances or unlawful activity, prompting the officers to investigate further.
As the situation unfolded, the convicted individual attempted to conceal a green, plant-based substance by placing it in her mouth after being asked for her documentation. An officer anticipated the move and reached forward to stop her, a moment that sparked a struggle. In the course of the exchange, the suspect bit the index and middle fingers of the officer’s left hand. Medical records from the Montpellier Clinic noted the injuries as minor in nature, but the health team proceeded with precautionary measures to protect the officer from potential HIV exposure, including post-exposure treatment. The officer then faced a temporary halt in service, with restrictions continuing for several days as a safety and health protocol was carried out.
Initially, the special prosecutor’s office had sought a three-year sentence for the assault charge and a two-year sentence for the wounding charge. The case, which originated in Zaragoza’s Court of Instruction No. 2, was resolved through a formal agreement. The decision stated that there would be no appeal filed by the parties and that the judgment would be finalized before the Regional Court of Zaragoza, effectively closing the matter through the negotiated terms of accountability and penalties.