“It’s not made to be comfortable,” said summarily. Romuald Seelsabout his night in police custody before Christmas. THE mayor of Venette does not wish to say more about the substance of the case between him and a young Traveler, Sunday December 22. But he says a little about his night at the Compiègne police station.
While he was reproaching this young man for riding a motorcycle on the Venette BMX field, he allegedly approached his vehicle and grabbed him by the collar. This would have forced Mayor Romuald Seels to brandish an unloaded alarm pistol to defend himself.
The young man filed a complaint. Hence this measure of police custody at the Compiègne police station. The mayor stayed there for 36 hours, spending one night there.
“It’s not a long, quiet river”
He first called his wife then the town hall, as the regulations allowed him to do. Then, he let himself be carried away by events. “Police custody is not a long, quiet river,” he said. You’re not sleeping. It’s not really comfortable. And it’s not meant to be. But in life, I was used to not living in comfort.”
After custody, Romuald Seels was presented to the judge at the Compiègne court. “My situation was changing,” he continues over these thirty-six hours. I didn’t ask for anything. I was sent to see a doctor. They ended up telling me that I was placed under the status of assisted witness. But nothing is set in stone. I was just told that the investigation is ongoing. I let justice do its job.”
He believes that “it’s a victory for them”, regarding the people with whom he is in conflict. “Which mayor of Compiégnois has already been in police custody,” he notes. No one but me.”
Touched by the support
He says he is touched by the support he has received from his residents on social networks. And also from his peers, through the letter of support from the Union of Masters of the Oise. Which allowed his experience to be known beyond the department.
“I have had calls from elected officials from the southwest and elsewhere, in France,” he said. I’m not the only one in this situation. Many elected officials are experiencing similar things. The difference is that I experience it with residents of my town.”
Relieved to have quickly resumed his private and public activities, the mayor of Venette meets his residents for the town’s wishes on Thursday January 16.
