José Ángel González, the former director adjunto operativo (DAO) and senior operational commander of the Policía Nacional, resigned on 17 February 2026. His defense has now formally asked the court to close the sexual assault investigation. A fellow officer has accused him of rape. The court admitted her complaint for examination, opening a formal investigation, but that step is not a finding of guilt. González had been the force’s operational number two since 2018, information from commentary published by La Voz del Sur.
González’s defense, led by lawyer José Carlos Velasco, says the evidence is insufficient and challenges the consistency of the complainant’s account. A recording made by the complainant on the day of the alleged incident was played in court, but the parties dispute what it shows. In its account of the recording, the defense attributed the words “Goodbye, honey, we see each other on Sunday” to the complainant, presenting them as inconsistent with her allegation. His lawyers have also questioned her motives, alleging she invoked the hierarchical relationship between them to obtain a large pension. These are arguments from González’s lawyers, not judicial findings.
Judge David Maman Benchimol, who is overseeing the case, moved the investigation in June from a preliminary inquiry to an ordinary summary proceeding. The change allows the court to keep examining evidence in a case involving potentially serious penalties. It does not establish guilt or automatically send the matter to trial. The judge invited both sides to propose further investigative measures, leaving the inquiry open. González’s defense is seeking dismissal, while the complainant’s lawyer, Jorge Piedrafita, says the investigation should continue.
The case has also become an institutional issue. González resigned after the complaint was admitted, and police unions demonstrated outside the Interior Ministry, demanding the resignations of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and the Policía Nacional’s director general, La Voz del Sur reported. El Debate described a crisis within the police leadership and reported allegations that the complainant later faced a campaign of harassment and manipulation intended to silence her. Those allegations are separate from the court’s examination of the original complaint.
Cases involving senior police officials and allegations of misconduct have renewed attention to accountability within public institutions. The proceedings echo other recent high-profile legal disputes, including the ongoing investigation into the Andic homicide, where the defense has also challenged the sufficiency of evidence and police procedures. Coverage of the Andic case also examined the complexities of judicial processes and legal arguments, as detailed in this recent report on a major Spanish court battle.
In Spain’s criminal procedure, moving an investigation into ordinary summary proceedings allows further judicial examination; it does not determine whether the case will go to trial. The judge’s decision on González’s request to close the case will depend on the evidence and arguments submitted by both sides. The investigation remains open, and no final dismissal or conviction has been reported.
