For the record: according to the public prosecutor’s office, there is currently nothing to indicate that the arrested police officer – from the anti-drug section – had prior contact with the suspect of the search. In other words: there are currently no indications that Ricardo Gomez was ‘tipped off’ and was therefore aware of the search. The officer may have had contact with another key figure in the case. The prosecutor’s office emphasizes that Gomez was probably “surprised in his sleep.” The officer was arrested and is currently in jail. In addition, two other police officers were arrested and detained.
“One officer is charged with forgery by a public servant, breach of trust and weapons offences. A second is accused of forgery by a public official, embezzlement by a public official, breach of trust, breach of professional secrecy and unlawful consultation of a database. The latter is accused of forgery by a public official, embezzlement by a public official, breach of trust, breach of professional secrecy, unlawful consultation of a database and weapons offences,” the Charleroi public prosecutor’s office said.
In layman’s terms, these officers are generally suspected of having passed on important secret information about investigations to, among others, the criminal environment.
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People came to leave flowers and a hug at the house where the tragedy took place. — © aba
Vertebral column
Back to the facts. Last Monday morning, officers from the special units of the Liège department raided the home of Spanish fifty-something Ricardo Gomez in Rue de l’Etang. The police forced the door and entered the house at house number 245. Several elite officers, including 36-year-old Jonathan, were the first to enter the house. They met Gomez’s wife. Just seconds later, her husband opened fire from another room. He was holed up behind a door. He shot out almost the entire charger of his weapon. Jonathan was fatally struck. Where exactly is not yet clear, but the fact is that the special units wear heavy bullet-proof vests and helmets. Of course, there are always parts of the body that remain unprotected.
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Member of the special forces Jonathan (36) died during the search in Lodelinsart. — © rr
According to our information, one of the members of the special forces was hit in the spine. The doctors are hopeful that he will recover
Two other elite officers were injured. One of them is still in serious condition. According to our information, J. (33) was hit by a bullet near the spine. There were fears that the man would be paralyzed for life, but doctors are hopeful that things may turn out well. It caused enormous relief among colleagues. The man has had a girlfriend for several years and was very good friends with Jonathan, the fatal victim. Before joining the special units, he was a police officer in the local police zone Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve in Walloon Brabant.
The third colleague was shot in the buttocks. He is said to be physically improving already. Gomez also suffered life-threatening injuries from a bullet and later died in hospital.
Rose behind windshield wiper
Yesterday, people laid flowers and a hug at the scene of the tragedy. Striking: Ricardo Gomez’s relatives are also receiving support. Behind his daughter’s windshield wiper was a red rose with a message of support. Gomez’s wife declined to comment yesterday. According to local residents, she was taken away in an emotional state after the incident. She was not arrested.
Gomez himself is said to be known for drug trafficking involving cocaine and cannabis. According to the public prosecutor of Charleroi, until now he has mainly been convicted in the police court. The last conviction dates back to 2004, so twenty years ago.
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Staff shortage
Meanwhile, the unions are stirring. “This is an unimaginable tragedy for the police and the families involved,” says Joery Dehaes of the ACV police union. “Today there is an understaffing of seventy people in this important service. Due to this shortage, the officers have to work too much overtime, they cannot train enough and they have too little rest. This tragedy is an isolated incident, but I hope that the government recognizes the needs of our Special Forces and accommodates the officers of that service so that they can continue to perform their extremely dangerous job as safely as possible.”