Amsterdam police defend officer's use of stun gun on delivery driver

Police said the officer who used a stun gun on a delivery driver in Amsterdam's Runstraat on Thursday believed it was the only way to regain control of the situation. The driver had refused to move his van and subsequently failed to cooperate with his arrest, leading to an escalation.

An online video captures part of the arrest, but police said the confrontation began earlier. The delivery driver had refused to move his van or show his identification, according to police. The officer allegedly warned him twice before using the stun gun. Police said the driver then grabbed the officer's wrist, prompting the officer to break free and deploy the weapon.

"At a certain point, an officer decides: I cannot resolve this situation any other way. He then opts to use a stun gun," a police spokesperson said. "There was more leading up to it than what can be seen in the video circulating online." The police said they had also reviewed other footage.

Officers are required to consider which level of force is necessary and issue a warning before using force, provided the circumstances allow it. It is unclear from the footage circulating online whether the officer warned the delivery driver beforehand.

The incident was reported to an assistant public prosecutor, who will assess the officer's use of the stun gun. The delivery driver received three tickets from police before being allowed to go.

The Dutch Police Union declined to comment on whether the officer acted appropriately, saying the available footage does not show enough of the incident to assess the full circumstances or the officer's decision-making. The union will not make any statements about what happened while the investigation is ongoing. It stressed that police officers "must be able to carry out their work safely and professionally."

The police website states that a stun gun is intended for situations involving an immediate threat of danger. Their use must be necessary, effective, and proportionate to the situation, and must stop as soon as it is no longer strictly necessary.

Police said the officer repeatedly asked the delivery driver to cooperate and warned him twice before using the stun gun. According to the police account, the driver grabbed the officer's wrist as he was being guided toward a wall. The officer freed himself and subsequently deployed the stun gun.

GLS said it was shocked by the incident. The driver is employed by a transport partner that handles deliveries for GLS. The parcel company said it was in contact with the partner to discuss "the driver's well-being."

"We trust that the police will conduct a thorough investigation into the facts," GLS said.