Man Attempts Suicide in Court Cell After False Arrest Over Door Damage

A man in his 40s is hospitalized in serious condition, sedated and on a ventilator, after attempting suicide in a court detention cell while awaiting a hearing. The incident occurred last Friday in Ashkelon, where the man was arrested at his mother's home following a neighbor's report of damage to the apartment door. Despite the minor nature of the alleged offense, the situation escalated at the Ashkelon Magistrate's Court when the suspect tied his shoelaces around his neck in an attempt to end his life.

The hearing proceeded in his absence after he was immediately taken to the hospital. Judge Dorit Bunda sharply criticized the police investigation unit for the arrest, ruling there was no legal basis for detaining him. She expressed surprise that the police did not release the suspect under restrictive conditions, given the offense did not justify detention.

The Israel Police responded that the suspect was arrested after family members expressed concern for his safety and theirs, citing threats he made to harm himself while holding a knife. Due to concerns about his and his family’s safety and his violent behavior, officers detained him. Until the court hearing, he was held under the custody of the Prison Service, which is responsible for detainees in its care. The police clarified that the suicide attempt happened while he was in Prison Service custody.