Prosecutors drop case against officer after moped pursuit

Feldkirch prosecutors have dropped an investigation into a police officer who took a teenager to the ground after a pursuit, ORF Vorarlberg reported. The measure was considered proportionate to prevent the teenager from fleeing again, according to the Neue Vorarlberger Tageszeitung, citing the authorities.

The officer had been investigated on suspicion of causing bodily harm while abusing his official position. The decision to close the case followed inquiries by the Interior Ministry’s Investigative and Complaints Office for Allegations of Abuse.

The incident happened in June, after the teenager led an unmarked police car on a pursuit. A video of the encounter was shared thousands of times on social media.

The video shows the car cutting off the moped, causing the teenager to fall. A female officer gets out, and the teenager stands up, raises his hands and removes his helmet. A male officer then approaches and pushes him down, before taking him to the ground again. The footage does not clearly show whether he used a blow or a shove. Witnesses filming the scene can be heard protesting loudly.