Officers from the Criminal Division and the District Officers’ Unit of the County Police Headquarters in Zgorzelec, while patrolling the Węgliniec municipality, noticed a Volvo travelling at high speed on one of the local roads.
The police officers decided to stop the vehicle for inspection and gave the driver visual and audible signals. The man did not comply with the orders, however, and began to flee.
The driver tried to lose the patrol by fleeing along an unpaved road and then entering a forest complex. After a while, he returned to a paved road. The dynamic and dangerous drive ended unexpectedly—the vehicle lost one of its tires, causing the driver to lose control and drive into a roadside ditch.
Two men ran out of the wrecked vehicle and attempted to continue their escape on foot. Both were arrested after a brief chase.
It turned out that a 23-year-old resident of Zgorzelec County had been behind the wheel. He was accompanied by a 29-year-old passenger, also a resident of the same county. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Further actions revealed more irregularities. After checking the driver, it came to light that he did not have a driving licence. A breathalyzer test confirmed the presence of alcohol, while a drug test indicated methamphetamine in the 23-year-old’s system. The car was secured, and the man was taken into police custody.
That was not the end of the matter. Police officers from the Police Station in Pieńsk also established that the same 23-year-old was linked to the theft of three catalytic converters. The losses were estimated at more than PLN 3,000.
The man will now face charges including failing to stop for a road check, driving under the influence of alcohol and intoxicating substances, driving without a licence, and theft. Failure to stop for a road check alone carries a penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment. The court will decide the 23-year-old’s further fate.