The incident occurred on January 4, 2026, near Chojnów. Police officers ordered the driver to stop the vehicle using light and sound signals. Paweł S., a 35-year-old resident of Chojnów, ignored the order and began to flee.
The chase ended in Studnia
The chase ended in Studnia, where the driver collided with a police vehicle. Fortunately, none of the officers was injured.
Investigators established that the 35-year-old was driving under the influence of methamphetamine. According to the prosecutor’s office, the concentration of the substance was equivalent to the effects of alcohol exceeding 0.5 per mille.
Stolen car and false plates
That was not the end of the charges. The car driven by the man had been stolen by the 35-year-old. In addition, the vehicle had false registration plates fitted.
Moreover, as established, the driver should not have been behind the wheel at all. He was subject to two court bans on driving any motor vehicles—one issued by the court in Zgorzelec and the other by the court in Bolesławiec, the latter lasting as long as five years. His driving privileges had also been revoked.
He had stolen cars before
The prosecutor’s office reported that the suspect had previously allegedly stolen another car. He then drove it several times despite active driving bans. At that time, the man was placed under police supervision, which he also failed to comply with.
After the January chase, the prosecutor applied for temporary detention. The District Court in Złotoryja granted the application on January 6, 2026.
Request for sentencing without a trial submitted
On March 20, 2026, the District Prosecutor’s Office in Złotoryja submitted to the court a request for sentencing without holding a trial. A combined sentence of 2 years and 8 months’ imprisonment was agreed with the defendant.
Investigators also want S. to receive a lifetime ban on driving motor vehicles. He would also have to pay a total of PLN 23,000.
When will the hearing take place?
The case will be handled by the District Court in Legnica. The hearing has been scheduled for mid-May 2026.