A criminal complaint for attempted murder filed against a police officer by a 17-year-old student in Belfort has been transferred to the judicial court in Vesoul following a procedural relocation announced on Tuesday, October 6, by the Besançon general prosecutor’s office.
The Transfer of the Attempted Murder Complaint to Vesoul
The legal proceedings initiated by a 17-year-old adolescent against a local law enforcement officer have been shifted outside the Belfort jurisdiction. According to the Besançon general prosecutor’s office, the complaint targets both the officer and his chain of command. Prosecutor General Olivier Caracotch explained that the file was forwarded to the parquet in Vesoul because the active investigation could potentially involve a police official who routinely works in professional contact with magistrates at the Belfort tribunal.
Olivier Caracotch noted that this judicial relocation is a standard procedure in this category of contentions and does not prejudge the gravity of any potential charges against the individual involved. The complaint stems from an intervention on Friday, October 2, occurring near a local stream during student protests in Belfort.
Disputed Allegations at the Edge of a Belfort Stream
According to Arié Alimi, the attorney representing the 17-year-old student, the police officer involved—identified as the head of departmental intelligence—attempted to drown his client during the apprehension. The lawyer stated that the officer targeted the young man after identifying him as a participant in throwing projectiles and setting fire to garbage bins during the demonstrations.
Video footage capturing the altercation circulated widely across online social media platforms, sparking public debate. Captured from a distance with the subjects partially obscured by foliage, the digital recordings do not provide absolute visual clarity on whether the teenager’s head was submerged in the watercourse. When investigators questioned the teenage suspect during his police custody regarding whether he believed the officer attempted to drown him, he replied in the negative, according to Belfort prosecutor Paul-Édouard Lallois. Attorney Arié Alimi disputed this account, accusing the local prosecutor of misrepresenting the facts.
Official Backing and Cross-Allegations of Aggravated Violence
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin published a statement on the social media platform X on Monday, offering his backing to Belfort prosecutor Paul-Édouard Lallois. The minister stated that the magistrate was executing his duties properly by directing investigations with impartiality and professionalism.
The confrontation extended beyond the initial apprehension. Following the incident by the stream, the police officer was reportedly pulled to the ground and beaten by several individuals. Prosecutors indicated that the 17-year-old student, who had initially broken away and escaped, was among those who took part in the assault against the law enforcement official.
Indictments and Upcoming Court Dates in Besançon
For his alleged role in the subsequent altercation, the 17-year-old adolescent was formally placed under investigation for aggravated violence against a national police officer and remanded into custody. His defense attorney appealed the pretrial detention order. The Besançon Court of Appeal’s instruction chamber is scheduled to review that appeal on October 14.
A second juvenile, aged 15, also faced formal indictment for the same charge of aggravated violence against a public official. Unlike the older teenager, the 15-year-old was placed under judicial supervision rather than being incarcerated while awaiting further court hearings.
