Police officers from Podkarpacie shot at a car they mistook for the vehicle of criminals. The mistake occurred on the A4 motorway. Two men were driving in the car that was shot at, but nothing serious happened to them. – The activities were carried out at night, we had unfavorable weather conditions – explains Commissioner Piotr Szpiech from the Krakow police, who coordinated the action. The Podkarpackie police initiated an inspection.
Krakow police officers determined that on the night of November 12-13, dangerous criminals transporting drugs were to travel along the route connecting Krakow and Rzeszów. They were to be armed. When the action moved from the Lesser Poland Voivodeship to the Podkarpackie section of the A4 motorway, officers from Rzeszów, asked for support, stopped the vehicle in which innocent people were traveling by mistake. Shots were fired earlier.
Accidental arrest and shots
There were two men in the vehicle that was stopped and shot at. An ambulance was called to the scene, but fortunately no one was seriously injured. However, one of the injured complained of a foreign body in the eye. The car was damaged.
Why did the police confuse the vehicles? – The actions had to be carried out dynamically because we knew that these were dangerous criminals who may possess firearms. As these activities were carried out at night, we had unfavorable weather conditions and the wrong vehicle was stopped – Commissioner Piotr Szpiech, press officer of the Krakow police, told TVN24.
The police “feel” responsible for repairing the damage
– The police explained the matter on the spot. They explained to the men why the police took such decisive action. They understood our actions. Of course, we fully feel responsible for repairing the damage that has occurred, Szpiech noted.
As commissioner Piotr Wojtunik, press spokesman of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Rzeszów, informed in response to tvn24.pl's questions, “control activities are currently being carried out in this case by police officers from the Control Department of the Police Headquarters in Rzeszów.”
“In addition, in order to clarify the circumstances of the incident, the Provincial Police Commander in Rzeszów initiated explanatory activities in this matter under the Police Act,” Wojtunik replied to us.
Proper arrest in Rzeszów
Ultimately, the real suspects were detained in Rzeszów. The men allegedly tried to run away from the officers, rammed a police car and tried to hit a policeman. The officers fired warning shots. After the chase, three people were detained, and their case is now being handled by the Krakow prosecutor's office. In the men's car, among others, were found: significant amounts of drugs.
Main photo source: KPP Wałcz