TAOYUAN – A man from Taiwan, identified as a 28-year-old bodybuilder named Zhu, found himself in a standoff with the police after causing an uproar in a local 7-Eleven store, according to a report from Focus Taiwan.
The incident unfolded on the morning of May 20, when Zhu, shirtless and seemingly unstable, entered the store. He commenced to behave erratically, talking to himself and knocking over product displays. The intimidated staff refrained from approaching him and instead called the police for assistance.
Upon the police’s arrival, Zhu’s temperament escalated, leading him to confront the officers. The officers, in response, sought to control him with pepper spray.
Zhu’s erratic behavior drew comparisons to the fictional Marvel superhero “The Hulk” among local media and netizens. A viral 13-second Facebook video depicts Zhu in a heated scuffle with a police officer.
Another video circulating online shows one of the officers repeatedly striking Zhu with a baton after he had ceased fighting, raising questions about excessive use of force by the police.
In response to these concerns, the Zhongli Police Precinct Station issued a statement on May 21, noting that Zhu continued to verbally provoke the officers after being subdued. One of the officers, identified by the surname Wang, is currently under investigation on suspicions of using excessive force. He may face charges under Article 277 of Taiwan’s Criminal Code.
The officers involved in the incident sustained minor injuries. As for Zhu, it was confirmed that he was not under the influence of alcohol, but he received treatment for a head injury. Zhu was handed over to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for alleged property damage, obstruction of a public official, and assault. He has since been released on bail of NT$50,000 (approximately S$2,190).