The president of the CFTC police union arrested for refusing to comply

The president of the CFTC police union was arrested for refusing to comply in Paris on October 31, on the evening of a demonstration, franceinfo learned on Wednesday November 11 from a source close to the matter, confirming information from Le Canard chainé. The Créteil public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, entrusted to the IGPN, franceinfo also learns from corroborating sources.

Axel Ronde was driving in the 12th arrondissement around 8 p.m., at the wheel of his red Seat, siren on, flashing lights on and sun visor marked “Police”. According to this same source, the unionist allegedly ran a red light, slalomed through traffic and even scratched another vehicle, without stopping.

This behavior intrigues an off-duty police officer, who decides to go and meet him near the Bois de Vincennes. The driver then turns off his flashing light and removes his “Police” sun visor. He claims to be a police officer and must urgently go to a law enforcement facility located not far away, even though today's demonstration is being dispersed.

According to his account to his superiors, the off-duty police officer carried out checks and discovered that the red car was not an administrative vehicle. It was then that the driver fled, almost hitting him. Reinforcements are called and a chase begins in the area. The off-duty police officer even fears having to deal with a dangerous individual. The fugitive is seen throwing his flashing light out the window.

Finally caught in the middle, Axel Ronde ended up being arrested. He carries an automatic pistol and a telescopic baton on his belt. The trade unionist struggles and visibly tries to contact a senior police officer. He denies the facts. If he was finally released and was able to leave with his vehicle, an investigation was opened by the Créteil public prosecutor's office, entrusted to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN).

Axel Ronde is the head of the CFTC Police union, a very minority organization in the police which received less than 1% of the vote during the last professional elections in 2022. He is, however, a regular on television sets. Two hours after the intervention, he will also be present on the BFMTV set to discuss the day of demonstrations.

Contacted by franceinfo, Axel Ronde affirms that the story given “is not at all what happened that evening”, and that he will explain it to the courts.