Following the shocking news that emerged yesterday about the death of Juan Carlos “Carlitos” Croes, who had been detained at the Noord Police Station before being transferred to the hospital, rumors and speculation quickly spread throughout the community. Reports that Croes had suffered serious injuries, along with allegations of possible police abuse, raised concerns and sparked strong reactions on social media.
In response to the growing speculation, Minister of Justice Arthur Dowers addressed the situation in an interview with 24ora.com, seeking to clarify several key details and explain what is currently known about the incident.
According to Dowers, there is currently no indication that police officers physically abused Croes or caused the injuries that may have contributed to his death. However, he stressed that the investigation is still ongoing and that the exact circumstances surrounding Croes’ death have yet to be established.
The minister also expressed his deepest condolences to Croes’ family, acknowledging the pain and uncertainty they are experiencing. He urged the public and the media to refrain from drawing conclusions until the Landsrecherche, under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has completed its investigation.
As part of his efforts to better understand the incident, Dowers visited the Noord Police Station, where he received information about the case and reviewed some of the available video footage.
Based on what he reviewed, the minister said officers appeared to be attempting to restrain Croes and bring the situation under control. He described Croes as having difficulty controlling his body during the intervention and suggested that he may have consumed a substance that affected his physical condition. However, this possibility has not been confirmed by medical findings or investigators.
Dowers further maintained that Croes had not arrived at the police station with injuries and that officers had not mistreated him while he was in custody.
Nevertheless, questions remain about the injuries Croes reportedly sustained before his death. These have fueled public concern, with several people on social media accusing police officers of using excessive force and contributing to Croes’ death.
The investigation will therefore need to establish not only what happened during Croes’ arrest and detention, but also how he sustained his injuries and what ultimately caused his death.
While Dowers indicated that he has additional information about the case, he explained that he cannot disclose certain details because they form part of the ongoing investigation. He assured the public that the Public Prosecutor’s Office will provide further information when appropriate.
