Chalandri, Greece – A Christmas Eve celebration in Chalandri Square took a violent turn when an on-duty police officer allegedly assaulted a man dressed as Santa Claus and the Deputy Mayor.
The incident occurred on Christmas Eve afternoon during a municipality-organized festive event. According to witnesses, the 35-year-old officer rode his service motorcycle into the square, which was closed to vehicles for the event. A woman reportedly reprimanded the officer for entering the restricted area, prompting the intervention of the Santa Claus impersonator and the Deputy Mayor.
The situation escalated quickly, with the officer allegedly punching the man dressed as Santa Claus and assaulting the Deputy Mayor with both punches and kicks. As the officer left the scene, he allegedly shouted insults and made a hand gesture that some witnesses interpreted as a Nazi salute, a claim the officer denies.
The volunteer Santa Claus and the Deputy Mayor subsequently filed a complaint at the Chalandri Police Station, providing photographic evidence that identified the officer. The officer was arrested and faces charges of "Insult" and "Simple Bodily Harm."
In a surprising turn of events, the officer also filed a counter-complaint against the Santa Claus impersonator and the Deputy Mayor, accusing them of "Insult" and "False Accusation." Both men were briefly arrested but later released following a verbal order from the Prosecutor. The officer remains in custody and is expected to appear before a prosecutor.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community and raised questions about the officer's conduct. An internal investigation within the police department is likely to follow.