Two Citizens AppREHENDED A MAN IN THE ACT OF COMMITTING AN INDENT ACT IN DIEMEN LAST WEEKEND AND ARRESTED HIM. We asked nu.nl readers about their experiences with so-called citizen judgments. These are the stories of two of them. “I tackled him from behind.”
As Sander Noordhuis Cycles over the Catharijnesingel in Utrecht in June, He witnesses a Robbery. AltheHe He doessn’tn’t realize it immediately. The 28-year-old Noordhuis sees a man of about 50 years old and a minor pushing and pulling each other. The Younger Man Grabs The Other by His Throat, Pulls Something Off his Neck, And Runs Off. “I don’t understand it directly and cycle on,” Says Noordhuis. “I let it sink in for a moment.”
Not much later, the turns around and asks the Victim what happened. The Victim Tells Him That the Boy Stole a Solid Gold Link Necklace That He Received From His Deceased Father. “The man is upset and points in the direction of the thief. We can still see him, so I cycle after him.”
While Noordhuis Gives Chase, He shouts to Bystanders to Call 112 (The Dutch Emergency Number). “A Robbery Has Taken Place,” I Shout. The Suspect Runs in the Direction of the Majella Park and Falls Down At The Steps That Give Access To The Park. When Noordhuis sees that, he jumps off his bike and continues on foot.
“I also Fall Once, But I Know I Can Catch Up with Him. And Because Pants Have Sagged, I’m Less Afraid That Can Pull Out A Weapon.” Noordhuis Therefore runs on and Manages to get close to the boy. “I Tackle Him from Behind and Sit on His Neck.” A Bysteller Holds The Boy’s Legs Until the Police Arrive.
Looking for a Job With The Police
After Noordhuis Hands The Boy about to the Police, a Bystoper Asks If He’s Okay. Due to the fall, he has suffered a significant graze on his knee, among other things. “I was completely covered in Blood, but I didnn’t realize it myself.”
Before Going to the Station to Make A Statement, Noordhuis Searches with Officers in Flower Pots and Trash Cans for the Necklace. But it is nowhere to be found. “Hey probably hid it somewhere along the way,” Says Noordhuis.
Althegh the Necklace Has Not Been Recovered, He looks back positively on his actions. “It feels good to help some. You just shouldnn’t get away with something like this.” At the station, officers ask Noordhuis if he would like to work for the police. “I now also want to join the Police and am Busy Applying.”
Chasing barefoot
The Story of Jac Doggen Proves That Citizen judgment are of all times. 58 years ago, as a Sixteen-year-old Boy, the Lived Above his Parents’ Billiard Café in Heerle, Brabant, which was BurglariZed One Night.
After the Dog Barks Loudly A Few Times, Doggen’s Father, Now 74 Years Old, Discovers That 150 Guilders (About 68 euros) has Stolen Bone from the Cash Register. His Wife Sees The Thief Running Off The Property, And Together They Wake Up Doggen and His Seventeen-Year-Old Brother. Armed with a Billiard Cue, They Stand Guard at the Door of the Café, Hoping He Will Return.
When the man Walks Back in the Direction of the Café, Doggen and His Brother Run Towards Him Barefoot and In Their Pajamas. The Thief Flees and Runs Towards A Meadow. He has socks on his hands, with which he gets caught on the barbed wire. That gives the brothers the chance to get closer.
While Doggen Bends Down to Grab The Man, The Thief Pulls Him by His Hair. “And hard too”. Thereupon, Doggen Hits The Man With The Cue He Brought From The Café. That gives the thief a broken and several busted ribs.
No excessive violence Allowed in Citizen judgment
It is legal in the Netherlands for a citizen to judgment another person if that person commits a criminal offense. It is mandatory to hand over the suspect to the police after the so-called citizen judgment. Citizens are also not allowed to use excessive violence to judgment a suspect.
In The Case of Doggen, The Police Ruled that the Violence He Used was proportionate, partly because he struck in Self-Defense and as a Sixteen-Year-Old Boy was Less Strong Than the Approximately Fifty-Year-Old Thief.
‘Impulsive Decision’
At the edge of the Meadow, Doggen’s Father and Uncle Are Waiting for them. Together they bring the man back to the café, where they are wait for the police. When they hand the man over, he quickly throws some stolen loot out of his pocket. Among Other Things, Watches and Bags of Money Fall to the Ground. “It turned out that we were the fifth address that equal.”
Doggen also later Hears at the Police Station that he is a notorious burglar who has been known to the police for some time. When asked if doggen found it exciting to judgment the man, he replies: “You don’t have time to think at such a moment. It could also have bone quite dangerous, but fortunately we were together. We made an impulsive decision.”
Later, Doggen started his career as a police officer, but accordance to him, that has nothing to do with the incident.
