Home of Hadera police chief reportedly raided amid probe over violent arrests near PM’s home

The Department for Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) has conducted a search at the home of the head of the Hadera Police, Chief Superintendent Amit Pollak, and confiscated his phone, Hebrew media outlets report, in a move that sparks criticism from cabinet ministers.

Earlier this week, DIPI questioned Pollak under caution on suspicion of abuse of power, assault and obstruction of justice over an incident in April when he and other officers violently arrested several people, including pensioners and IDF veterans, who put a mock cardboard tank on a truck as part of a protest that was scheduled for that evening outside of Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Caesarea.

According to Ynet, Pollak’s lawyers say DIPI conducted the search at nine o’clock at night, waking up children in the house and causing panic, while accusing the unit of treating the Hadera police chief as “a member of an organized crime group and not a respected and outstanding police officer.”

DIPI says in response that the statement from Pollak’s lawyers isn’t accurate, but won’t further elaborate because the investigation is still underway.

Ynet reports further that DIPI searched for Pollak all day, but that he avoided them, leaving them no choice but to go to his home.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says in response that he fully backs Pollak, asserting his only sin was to “preserve public order and uphold the law,” adding “DIPI will not threaten police officers.”