‘Handicapped cops’ turn on their accuser

A waiter who filmed two volunteer traffic policemen parking their squad car in a handicapped spot found himself under arrest for failing to produce his national identity card.

The waiter noticed the police car in a parking spot reserved for the disabled on Monday night outside the cafe where he works and proceeded to use his mobile phone to record the offense, Hebrew daily Maariv reported Tuesday. The plucky waiter even approached the car and asked the two policemen inside why they were parked there.

“That’s none of your business,” was the reply. “If a handicapped person arrives, we’ll move.”

The waiter returned to his cafe, in the Tel Aviv suburb of Givatayim, but minutes later one of the policemen burst in and bellowed that anyone else who parks in the restricted spot would get a fine.

“You want to play around with me?” the policeman shouted at the waiter, according to Maariv. “I’ll show you what for. You tell everyone that they can’t park here.”

The waiter told the policeman that he fully supported the idea of fining those who park illegally, and in response was told to produce his national identity card for inspection. The waiter was initially unable to locate his card and so the policeman arrested him, dragging him by the arm out to the patrol car. It was only once the waiter was able to find his card that the officer let him go.

Tel Aviv Police suspended the policeman pending an investigation.