A mayor in Brittany has been placed in provisional detention and formally charged following the death of a 66-year-old woman during a chaotic attempt to have her involuntarily committed. The incident, which occurred on April 7 in the commune of Plouasne, Côtes-d’Armor, has led to serious criminal accusations against the local official.
Charges of Violence and Arbitrary Detention
Michel Daugan, the mayor of Plouasne, was charged on the evening of April 15 with “intentional violence resulting in death” and “arbitrary detention” followed by death. A municipal councilor involved in the incident faces the same charges and has been placed under judicial supervision, which includes a ban from entering the town of Plouasne, according to a statement from Saint-Malo prosecutor Fabrice Tremel.
The victim, identified as Catherine Josselin, died on the public street outside her home. The mayor and councilor had intervened to prevent her from returning to her residence, intending to have her hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation reportedly due to disturbances she had caused in the neighborhood.
Video Evidence Reveals Prolonged Restraint
Critical evidence came from video footage provided by a witness. Prosecutor Tremel stated the analysis showed that “for 15 minutes, four people were physically involved, with varying degrees of implication, to firmly contain the victim on the ground while exerting pressure on her.” The investigation further revealed that the woman’s legs were tied “using a strap and a rope brought by two of them.”
The two individuals who provided the rope and strap were released from police custody after questioning. An autopsy concluded that the hypotheses “most likely to explain the death” establish “the existence of a link” with the facts suffered by the victim during the restraint.
Legal Procedure Ignored
A key element of the case is the apparent bypassing of legal protocols. Prosecutor Tremel noted that “no municipal order for compulsory hospitalization” had been issued against the woman, and the required medical certificate to establish such an order had “not been previously delivered.” This absence of proper procedure raises significant questions about the legality of the officials’ actions.
Michel Daugan, mayor since 2008, was narrowly re-elected in March. His list was declared victorious after a perfect tie in votes, decided in his favor due to having the higher average age of candidates, as stipulated by the electoral code. The community of roughly 1,800 inhabitants is now grappling with the fallout from this tragic event and the serious charges against its elected leader.
