34-year-old Bartek S. died after a police intervention that took place on Friday morning in Lubin. The cause of death remains unknown.

Bartek’s family and friends say that the man was suffocated.

A protest attended by around 200 residents moved by the young man’s death took place outside the police headquarters in Lubin. Rioting broke out. The crowd chanted slogans including “murderers.” Bottles of water, stones and bricks were thrown toward the police building.

This is how the police described the incident in an official statement:

On August 6, at around 6:00 a.m., officers from Lubin went to intervene in a situation involving an aggressive man who, according to a report made to the 112 emergency number, was running along one of the city’s streets and throwing stones at the windows of buildings. The incident was reported by a woman who said that the perpetrator was her son, who abused drugs.

Because of a justified threat to the man’s life and health, as well as to bystanders, officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. At the indicated location, police officers found an aggressive man whom they tried to calm down and identify. However, he did not respond to their orders, was highly aggressive and extremely agitated. Because of the man’s irrational behavior, officers used restraint holds and handcuffed him. The man continued to disobey orders, struggle and pull away. Given his aggressive behavior and the justified suspicion that he might be under the influence of drugs, additional officers were called to the scene to prevent the situation from escalating, along with an ambulance and paramedics.

The man was handed over to medical personnel and, because of his behavior, was transported to hospital under police escort, subsequently being taken to the emergency department. Approximately two hours after he was transported to hospital, the officer on duty at the Lubin District Police Headquarters was informed that the man had died.

The prosecutor’s office was immediately notified of the entire incident and, in accordance with the applicable procedures, opened an investigation. The control unit of the Lower Silesian Provincial Police Headquarters in Wrocław was also notified. Activities aimed at establishing the course of the intervention are ongoing. An autopsy will probably be carried out on the prosecutor’s instructions and will determine the cause of death.