It was a violent arrest in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem on Wednesday evening 25 Teves according to eyewitnesses. A neighborhood resident in his 50s saw police running and he followed, believing it was a terror attack. His running resulted in his being violently tackled and arrested.

It was later learned police were heading to a yeshiva to check for a young man who was supposed to be under house arrest. Police were mistaken however since the court had already cancelled his house arrest order and he is no longer a student in the yeshiva in question.

Talmidim tried to explain the situation to police, that the house arrest was cancelled, but detectives insisted this was not the case. They demanded to enter the yeshiva and dormitory without a warrant and without presenting identification to show they are indeed policemen.

As this was going on the curiously of the neighborhood residents was peeked and a crowd gathered outside, which by the way blocked police vehicles, at least partially. Three youths were arrested for interfering with police, one arrested violently.

Honenu attorney Filch addressed the violent arrest of the man in his 50s, who was simply running to see what was taking place. When he arrived at the police station, Filch spoke with his client, who explained he was shopping with his wife in the area when he saw detectives running. Since he has a licensed handgun he followed in the event there was something he could do to assist. Police were quick to use force against him, perhaps believing he was there to interfere with them.

Filch adds that making things worse, all four suspects were not given chairs, but he found them seated on the floor of the police station, adding to their embarrassment.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)