Dutch officers charged over violent death of Aruban man

Dutch prosecutors on Monday charged two police officers in connection with the death of 42-year-old Mitch Henriquez, a native of the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba who was visiting family at the time.

The state prosecution service said that two of the five officers involved in Henriquez's death face assault and manslaughter charges for using excessive force while attempting to arrest the Aruban man.

The officers allegedly punched and pepper-sprayed Henriquez in the face, and then placed him in a chokehold. The victim reportedly joked with the officers that he had a weapon in his possession, although none were discovered on his body.

Dutch authorities released a damning report of the fatal incident earlier Monday, saying the "heavy-handed use of force against Henriquez" was "disproportionate, excessive and improper," reported local broadcaster, RTL Netherland.

The report added that the police officers involved resorted to violence too quickly, and were late in seeking medical assistance for the victim. Henriquez died the day after the incident as a result of the injuries sustained during the arrest.

His death in June 2015 prompted mass protests and civil unrest in The Hague, with the demonstrations echoing similar sentiments as the Black Lives Matter rallies in the US.

Police in the Netherlands frequently face allegations of racism while on duty. A 2013 documentary highlighted the issue showing testimonies of victims and former officers that pointed to racial profiling and higher rates of violence used against immigrants and foreigners.

In 2015, national police chief Gerard Bouman issued a memo to staff warning that a "poison is creeping into our organization" with regards to anti-Muslim prejudice.

ls/jil (AP, dpa)