Two Chilean police officers charged for injuring detainee, disguising it as accidental fall

Two carabineros in Chile have been formally charged with illegitimate coercion and falsification of a public document. They are accused of assaulting a detainee and then falsely documenting the resulting injuries as an "accidental fall" within a police station cell in Rengo, O'Higgins Region.

The incident occurred in February when a man was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing into a utility pole. While in custody at the Fourth Police Station, the detainee sustained a fractured shoulder and head injuries. Rengo's chief prosecutor, Osvaldo Yáñez, stated that one officer attempted to conceal the origin of the injuries by claiming the detainee had fallen accidentally.

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The victim, while under the care of Carabineros, was injured by two officers who were responsible for his care and custody.

"The victim, while under the care of Carabineros, was injured by two officers who were responsible for his care and custody," Yáñez reported. He further explained that one officer faces charges for illegitimate coercion, while the second is also accused of falsifying a public document by providing false information to the prosecution regarding the injuries' origin, making his alleged conduct more severe.

Security camera footage and photographs of the victim's injuries were presented during the court hearing. The officers were placed under night-time house arrest, and a 90-day period was set for the investigation. The Carabineros institution has not yet issued a statement regarding the case.

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Regarding one of the officers, (what is accused) is illegitimate coercion; regarding the second participant, he is also charged with the crime of falsification of a public document, because false information was given to the Prosecutor's Office regarding the origin of the injuries and, therefore, in that context, the conduct developed by the second of the detainees is more serious.