Fatal refusal to comply near Cannes: profile of the suspect, identity of the police officer killed… what we know about the case

Gérald Darmanin has given more information on the profile of the suspect arrested after the fatal refusal to comply in the Alpes-Maritimes. Capture X

The day after the fatal refusal to comply near Cannes that caused the death of a police officer, Gérald Darmanin has provided some information on the profile of the suspect. The Ministry of the Interior has also given more details on the identity of the victim in a press release.

After the fatal refusal to comply which cost the life of a police officer who died, Monday evening, around 8:40 p.m., hit by a vehicle in Mougins, near Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes), the fleeing driver was arrested, announced the Minister of the Interior.

The profile of the suspect is becoming clearer and Gérald Darmanin, invited this Tuesday, August 27 on BFM, provided some information about him.

“Numerous crimes truckers"

The arrest took place shortly after 4 am on Tuesday on a street in Cannes, a source close to the investigation told AFP, adding that the man was on foot and "appeared to be heading" to the nearby police station.

Gérald Darmanin said on BFMTV that the man was a“Cape Verdean in legal status”, who had committed in the past “numerous traffic offences, including refusals to comply”.

Currently in police custody, the suspect also tested positive for alcohol, according to BFM. 

Who was the victim ?

The victim, Eric Comyn, a warrant officer and member of the motorized gendarmerie platoon, was hit during a check in the town of Mougins, near Cannes, at the exit of the A8 motorway, the gendarmerie said. Charles-Ange Ginésy, president of the departmental council, also paid tribute to him on X. 

In a press release, the Ministry of the Interior specified that the deceased gendarme was 54 years old, married and the father of two children aged 12 and 16.

According to this press release, this warrant officer was engaged for more than 30 years in the gendarmerie as a non-commissioned officer and joined the Mandelieu-la-Napoule platoon (Alpes-Maritimes) in 2007.