US govt 'acknowledges Italy concerns over Falcinelli'

25-year-old hog-tied after arrest by police in Miami

By: ansa.it

May 08 2024
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US govt 'acknowledges Italy co

The United States government has recognized Italy's concern about the violent treatment of Matteo Falcinelli, a 25-year-old from Spoleto who was hogtied by Miami police for 13 minutes after being arrested outside a nightclub in the Florida city in February.
    "We acknowledge the concerns raised by the Italian government and the Falcinelli family about the circumstances of Matteo's arrest in Miami," a US State Department spokesperson told ANSA when asked about the matter.
    "We understand that the police have opened an internal investigation into the case and we will continue to monitor these developments.
    "The US State Department works diligently to ensure that US law enforcement agencies comply with their legal obligations regarding notification and consular access when foreign nationals are detained in the United States, in accordance with the applicable national law and with international obligations, in the same manner that we expect foreign governments to treat U.S. citizens abroad." Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is among those to have condemned the violence Falcinelli was subjected to, saying he was "deeply shocked" by it.
    Police Bodycam videos show the 25-year-old being slammed to the ground outside a night club and then tied up, with his ankles bound and his hands behind his back, at a police station.
    During the videos Falcinelli can be heard to say "I'm not resisting", "please", "I'm not doing anything" and, at one point, screaming in pain.
    Speaking via his mother Vlasta Studenicova to ANSA this week, Falcinelli, whose case emerged over the weekend, said "I am touched by the support I have been receiving in these hours, also Italian citizens here in the United States.
    "Now I want justice".