MAASTRICHT - Police are investigating whether three members of the Krijnen family ambushed police officers Tuesday evening.Following reports of a brawl under the Noorderbrug, police found three members of the Krijnen family punching an officer in the face and threatening him with death. The trio was arrested for open assault, assault, threatening and resisting arrest. Police believe the trio ambushed the officers, a police spokesman said. When the police went to the Noorderbrug, where one of the Krijnen sons lives, after a report of a brawl, they encountered the three "riled-up men," who turned on the police fairly soon after arrival. They were the 38-year-old man who lives there, his 19-year-old son and his 35-year-old brother-in-law. Police suspect a deliberate confrontation in response to last week's verdict and the raid on mother Krijnen after indications that she wanted to set the house on fire.
It took 12 officers and two police dogs Tuesday night to arrest the members of theKrijnen family, who were violently resisting. The three were probably under the influence of alcohol and drugs, according to police. They have been taken into custody and will be arraigned Friday before the district attorney. They are under restriction and may only have contact with their lawyer. The Maastricht Public Prosecutor's Office says it generally follows the guideline of demanding heavier sentences in cases of violence against police officers, but is awaiting the investigation. Serge Weening, lawyer for the 35-year-old suspect, says the police used disproportionate force. His client was allegedly beaten with a truncheon. According to the police, only proportional force was used: "That was necessary to break the resistance."
