Near Stryi, the driver of a Range Rover deliberately drove into a police officer, damaged two police vehicles and attempted to flee. Later, law enforcement officers detained a 41-year-old resident of Sokilnyky in the Lviv community.
According to the investigation, the incident occurred on 20 July, around midday, in the village of Dovhe in the Stryi district. Law enforcement officers noticed an SUV whose driver failed to indicate when turning. The vehicle was stopped and, during a document check, it emerged that the driver was required to report to the territorial recruitment and social support centre to update his data.
After this, the driver suddenly drove off, hit a police service car and began to flee in the direction of Stryi. On the bridge over the river at the entrance to the town, another police crew was already waiting for him: a police vehicle with its blue lights on was partially blocking the bridge to stop the fugitive. Seeing the roadblock, the SUV driver did not stop but, at speed, ran over a police officer who was standing next to the vehicle, again hit the police car and drove on.
As a result of being hit, the police officer sustained multiple injuries. Doctors diagnosed him with a closed craniocerebral injury, concussion, a fractured collarbone, fractures of the pelvic bones, chest contusions, blunt abdominal trauma, and numerous wounds and abrasions all over his body. The injured officer is currently in intensive care.
After the incident, having driven into Stryi, the man left the vehicle on the roadside and continued on foot, attempting to evade pursuit. However, law enforcement officers tracked him down and detained him under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. Under the procedural guidance of the Stryi District Prosecutor’s Office, he has been notified of suspicion of resisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of his official duties, as well as attempting on the life of a law enforcement officer in connection with the performance of that officer’s official duties (Part 2 of Article 342, Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Stryi District Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv Region.
Pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt has been proven in the manner prescribed by law and established by a guilty verdict of a court.