Jerusalem Police Arrest Wrong Man After Stone-Throwing Incident

A Haredi man was arrested and held overnight in Jerusalem on suspicion of throwing a stone at police officers during a protest in the Mea Shearim neighborhood. Police sought to extend his detention for an additional five days. However, his lawyer presented video footage in court that revealed the young man was not the one who threw the stone.

According to the police operational report, an officer claimed to have identified the suspect, who was seen in the documentation wearing a white shirt and standing near a bus, as the individual who hurled the stone. The officer stated he maintained eye contact with the suspect until his arrest.

During the court hearing, the defense attorney's video evidence showed a different person throwing the stone. The police representative acknowledged the discrepancy, stating, "After I saw the video and was convinced that it was another person who threw the stone, we request to release the respondent immediately without conditions."

Consequently, the young man was released unconditionally after spending a night in custody and facing a request for an extended detention, as the identification that formed the basis of the police's request was found to be erroneous. The Israel Police responded, "When documentation was presented that refuted the suspicion against him, the police acted with fairness and requested his immediate release. It should be emphasized that the Israel Police operates based on evidence and facts, and if it becomes clear that a mistake has been made, it acts to correct it without delay."