A Uruguayan judge has ruled that the country's police force must pay a compensation of $20,000 to the family of a Cuban man who was killed during a police operation in 2021.
Judge Carlos Aguirre argued that the police officers "deviated from the regulatory framework" in their actions. "It is an extreme measure that should not be employed except when a person offers armed resistance to police action or endangers the physical integrity or life of police personnel or third parties," the ruling stated.
"It cannot be maintained that the police conduct was lawful. Therefore, the responsibility of the involved department arises due to the actions of its subordinate, for lack of service, as its subordinate violated police procedure," the ruling added.
The sister of the deceased had filed a complaint against the Ministry of the Interior for the death of her brother, a Cuban man who was living in a boarding house on Paysandú Street.
On the day of the incident, the man experienced a delusional episode and barricaded himself in a room at the boarding house with a pastry spatula and a bread knife. He also threatened to set the place on fire, according to Montevideo Portal.
When the officers arrived, one of them fired a non-lethal round. In response, the man began to run towards another officer, prompting one of the agents to draw his service weapon and shoot him. The bullet passed through the victim's left arm and entered his chest.
According to information provided at the time, the Cuban man had arrived in the South American country only a short time before the incident.
A prosecutor who initially took up the case expressed the intention of her office to investigate the event "as any violent death is investigated," and three years later, the results have been delivered.
FAQs About the Fatal Police Operation in Uruguay
Here are some frequently asked questions about the tragic incident involving the Cuban man and the Uruguayan police operation.
Why was the Cuban man barricaded in the room?
The Cuban man was experiencing a delusional episode and had barricaded himself in a room with a pastry spatula and a bread knife. He also threatened to set the boarding house on fire.
What led the police to use lethal force?
After the man was shot with a non-lethal round, he began to run towards another officer, which led one of the agents to draw his service weapon and shoot him, fearing for safety.
How long did the investigation take?
The investigation took three years to complete, with the final results being delivered recently.