Rotterdam Man Who Died During Arrest Reportedly Had Drugs on Him

New details have emerged about a 51-year-old man who died during a police arrest in Rotterdam.

Alfredo Goeloe died on Saturday evening, September 12, during an arrest at Vaarnerkamp in Rotterdam-Zuid.

Police officers stopped him while checking fatbikes following a report of a stolen bike.

Goeloe did not have identification documents with him.

According to prosecutors, he ran away when an officer attempted to search him. Police caught him and said he resisted arrest before suddenly collapsing.

Officers tried to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene.

A 45-second video filmed by a witness and verified by NRC shows Goeloe being forced to the ground while struggling with officers.

He can also be heard saying that he had diabetes.

However, the video ends before he became unwell.

The Rijksrecherche is investigating the incident, and authorities have not yet announced an official cause of death.

Police later confirmed that Goeloe’s fatbike was not the stolen bike they were searching for.

His family and campaign group Controle Alt Delete said Goeloe had left a baby shower for his unborn child to collect diabetes medication.

His partner is reportedly seven months pregnant.

Lawyer Gerald Roethof said the family plans to file a complaint over his death, citing possible manslaughter or death by reckless negligence.

A crowdfunding campaign for the family has raised around €10,000.

The case has caused anger in Rotterdam.

A silent march held on Monday evening later turned violent outside Zuidplein police station. Fireworks were thrown at police, and riot officers were deployed.

Some commentators also compared Goeloe’s death to the death of George Floyd in the United States.

However, De Telegraaf, citing multiple sources, has now reported that Goeloe was carrying more than a personal-use quantity of drugs when police stopped him.

The report suggested this could provide another possible reason for why he ran from officers.

The public prosecutor has not publicly confirmed the reported discovery of drugs.

Even if drugs were found on Goeloe, that alone does not explain how he died.

Several questions remain unanswered, including why he ran, what exactly police found on him and whether his death was connected to drugs, his medical condition, the struggle or the way he was restrained.

The autopsy and Rijksrecherche investigation are expected to provide more information about what happened.