SURABAYA — The death of a suspected snatcher inside the restroom of the Gunung Anyar Police Station, Surabaya, has drawn public scrutiny. The man, hailing from the Gembong area, reportedly passed away shortly after being detained by the police on Sunday (19/7/2026), sparking calls for a transparent investigation into the handling of the case.
Before being taken to the police station, the suspect was intercepted by residents after allegedly committing a crime in the Rungkut Tengah area. His attempt to flee on a motorcycle came to a halt when the vehicle crashed into a pole near a school zone. Local residents, together with the neighborhood head (RW), then secured the suspect, who was reportedly still conscious at the time.
Gunung Anyar Police Chief, IPTU Tulus, confirmed the arrest incident that ultimately led to the death. According to his statement, patrol officers initially intended to take the suspect to the Gunung Anyar Public Health Center (Puskesmas) to receive medical attention following the accident. However, before the medical examination took place, the suspect requested permission to use the restroom facilities at the Gunung Anyar Police Station and was subsequently found dead at the scene.
On the other hand, speculation has been circulating regarding alleged physical violence suffered by the suspect while inside the police precinct. Nevertheless, to date, this information has not been officially verified and is not backed by confirmed legal evidence.
To establish the precise chronology, confirmation efforts are still ongoing with the Head of Criminal Investigation (Kanit Reskrim) of Gunung Anyar Police, IPDA Gusti, as well as the Internal Affairs Division (Propam) of the Surabaya Police. An open and accountable investigation is strongly hoped for to bring light to this incident and to determine whether any procedural violations occurred during the handling of the case.
