An investigation has been launched in the small town of Benejúzar (Alicante province) into the death of 47-year-old Sergio Peñalva, who worked as a DJ. The incident occurred following his detention by local police officers. According to a forensic medical examination, the man sustained multiple injuries during physical contact with the police during the attempted arrest.
A complaint was filed with law enforcement by the deceased man’s underage son. In his statement, he reported that on the night of July 13, his father, who was experiencing an anxiety attack, went outside. The family sought help from female police officers, but according to the teenager, they were refused assistance due to the man’s prior issues with illegal substance use.
When Peñalva tried to reach the nearest hospital on his own—located about three kilometers away—the police attempted to stop him. According to the complainant, one of the officers pinned the man’s neck with her knee during the detention, causing his breathing to stop. Three days after the incident, he died in the hospital.
The son of the deceased claims that his father asked for an ambulance to be called but was refused. After this, the man began knocking on neighbors’ doors seeking help. The police followed him in their service vehicle and then tried to convince him that medical assistance had already been called. However, the man continued toward the hospital, attempting to attract the attention of passing drivers.
At some point, according to the teenager, the police officers got out of the car and forced him and his father to the ground. While attempting to handcuff them, one of the officers applied a neck restraint. The son noticed that his father had stopped breathing and informed the police. After a brief attempt at resuscitation, the ambulance—which arrived late—pronounced the man dead.
Medical records state that Peñalva was admitted to the hospital in a state of clinical death, while still in handcuffs. Tests revealed traces of cocaine, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. The victim’s family insists that the man was working as a DJ in the neighboring town of Cox and was returning home after a night shift.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances of the incident. Questions remain about the actions of the police officers and the timeliness of medical assistance.
