More than two weeks after the feminicide which occurred on Friday January 28 in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, the main suspect – the victim’s companion – is still running in the wild. The police headquarters has launched a call for witnesses and an internal investigation has been opened.
Actively sought after the discovery of the lifeless body of his companion, this 29-year-old policeman is indeed suspected of having strangled the latter. Especially since he had already been placed in police custody in 2019 for having committed violence against his girlfriend at the time.
He was then the subject of a summons for a training course to raise awareness of domestic violence and was sanctioned with an administrative warning, according to a source familiar with the matter. He had also been the subject of “social monitoring”, in particular provided by psychologists.
A call for witnesses was launched
In a call for witnesses relayed this weekend by the Paris police headquarters, the man – called Arnaud B. – appears shaved head and well-trimmed black beard. “He is in possession of his service weapon and a black commando type backpack”, can we read on this description.
“Likely to travel throughout the national territory” according to the police, he “drives at the wheel of a white Peugeot 208 registered DQ-759-HN in poor general condition”. A photo of the vehicle also accompanies the call for witnesses.
Another piece of information was released this weekend by France Info: an internal investigation would have been opened, after the discovery of a major dysfunction within the Blanc-Mesnil police station, in Seine-Saint-Denis (93) in which he was affected.
In question ? Arnaud B. would have been able to carry his weapon all the time, including outside his hours of service, and this, while he was prohibited from doing so following an administrative sanction. The latter is therefore armed, whereas he should have put his weapon back in the armory of his police station.
“The individual being armed […] please do not intervene but notify the police immediately”, also warns the Paris police headquarters in its call for witnesses, inviting all people who can bring an “interesting element” to contact the General Staff of the Paris PJ at the dedicated number (at 08.00.00.27.08) or by email ([email protected]).