The gendarmes intervened in Redon on June 19, 2021 to put an end to a rave party organized in tribute to Steve Maia Caniço, who died two years ago in Nantes. – Fred Tanneau / AFP
It was two years ago to the day. Steve Maia Caniço fell in the Loire, on the sidelines of the Fête de la musique in Nantes. His lifeless body was found on July 29. The investigation opened after this tragedy concluded that the young man had indeed fallen into the river at the time of the police intervention. Friday evening, several hundred people had decided to pay tribute to him by organizing a rave party in Redon (Ille-et-Vilaine), despite prefectural decrees prohibiting this gathering. The intervention of the police during the night from Friday to Saturday gave rise to violent clashes. A 22-year-old man has lost his hand, in circumstances which remain to be clarified. For their part, the gendarmes counted several wounded, after having suffered “throwing stones and molotov cocktails”, according to the Rennes prosecutor’s office.
Six people had been placed in police custody during the day on Saturday, before the gendarmes evacuated the site to “stop the sound”, as requested by the prefect of Brittany Emmanuel Berthier. Two men, aged 28 and 19, were released after a call to the law. Another, 20 years old and domiciled in Morbihan, will be summoned to the Rennes criminal court for having participated “in a gathering after summons to disperse and rebellion”.
One man imprisoned, three others summoned
Three men were referred to the Rennes prosecutor’s office on Sunday afternoon. Justice suspects them of having taken part in the violence against the gendarmes during the night from Friday to Saturday. One of them, 37 years old and from Orne, was imprisoned in execution of two sentences of 6 and 2 months of imprisonment pronounced previously, announced the prosecutor Philippe Astruc. “He is accused of throwing stones in the direction of the gendarmes.” The other two men, from Charente and Côtes d’Armor will also be summoned to court for acts of “violence against a person holding public authority or rebellion” and for having participated in the festive gathering.
Following this free party, the Rennes prosecutor’s office opened two other investigations. One will have to establish the circumstances of the serious injury of a 21-year-old man from Rennes, who had to be amputated. “The victim, still hospitalized, could not be interviewed”, specifies the prosecutor. Another legal procedure is underway to shed light on the organization of this evening. A turntable, three mixers and three amplifiers were seized on instruction from the prosecution. The gendarmes also destroyed some of the equipment, which the chirkers seriously criticize.