A Senegalese street vendor testified on Tuesday at the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife alleging that he was subjected to humiliation by a Santa Úrsula Local Police officer. The young man expressed feeling deeply hurt after being insulted, stating that his “soul was in pain.” These revelations were made during a trial where the defence has called for the officer’s acquittal, while the Prosecutor’s Office has sought a sentence of between 2 to 4 years in prison, along with a ban on carrying out further police duties.
The young man, identified as M, recounted an incident that took place on a Sunday in June, where an altercation with the officer led to his merchandise being thrown to the ground and his cellphone smashed against the bar counter.
According to the vendor, the officer aggressively demanded to know the source of the items he was selling, resorting to racial insults and threats of a 3,000 euros fine and deportation.
The officer refuted the allegations, claiming familiarity with the man for 30 years and no prior issues between them. He explained that the confrontation arose because the vendor was insistent and invasive in promoting his merchandise, disturbing the officer’s peace.
The officer alleges that it was the vendor who initiated the conflict by using derogatory language and that he was sober throughout the exchange, engaging in a normal conversation.
He justified calling the Civil Guard after his family members were fined and denied having a reputation for hostility in the town or among his fellow officers, adamantly rejecting any accusations of racism.
The immigrant recounted feeling insulted and emotional distress when his phone was broken, breaking down in tears upon suspicion of being recorded by the police.
The vendor claimed that the officer persistently inquired about his merchandise suppliers, asserting that his purchases were legitimate and from licensed vendors.
He dismissed the notion that the dispute arose due to any difficulty in acquiring goods.
Furthermore, he alleged that the officer assaulted him with an ashtray, using derogatory language while causing physical harm.
The commotion prompted the bar staff to contact the Civil Guard, offering the young man the option to file a complaint, which he initially hesitated to accept.
The young vendor hesitated due to the officer’s position of authority, feeling insignificant, but was reassured by the officers about his rights.
He expressed ongoing fear of potential confrontations when out in public and shared the necessity of taking tranquilizers following the distressing incident.
The pub chef confessed that she didn’t catch the entire dispute but heard a loud crash, which turned out to be the mobile phone hitting the counter. Then she noticed that M. was in tears and appeared fearful, while the police officer was irate and agitated, demanding, “Tell me who did this?”
He described the victim as a courteous and well-mannered individual who has never instigated any trouble.
A witness for the defence stated that she only overheard the officer saying, “Remove that item from here!” She considered this understandable as the seller had also been very persistent with her and might have uttered the same at some point.
The constable who arrived at the scene reported that the accused displayed signs of intoxication; he was unsteady on his feet, repetitive in his statements, and had the aroma of alcohol on his breath.
