On the night of May 23, two police officers, Senior Sergeant Przemysław D. and Constable Radosław P., received a call to one of Inowrocław's apartments. At the scene, they found a dilapidated apartment and a man staggering to his feet.
Officers handcuffed the 27-year-old man and decided to continue their operation. As it turned out later, this was the beginning of a series of violations of the law, which provides in detail what the intervention should be and what measures will be taken against the detainees.
– Police officers do not have the right to use a Taser on a handcuffed person. This is an absolute ban and there are no repercussions from this ban – says the Deputy Inspector. Monika Krebić from the Bydgoszcz cantonal police headquarters.
Michał Silwestruk, victim of police brutality
The man was immediately handcuffed and taken to the living room. A shocking scene occurs here. The 27-year-old was held by Radosław P. and did not show any resistance until he was suddenly shocked several times with a Taser. As he lay on the floor writhing in pain, he gave a clear signal that he would obey the officers' commands.
According to the incident file provided to Polsat News reporters, the Taser was used a total of six times.
“Przemysław D. shocked Michał Silvestork several times with a stun gun, even though he was lying calm. When asked if he was calm, he said yes, but then shocked him again with a stun gun. “This kind of behavior is unacceptable,” read the court expert's opinion.
As a result of repeated shocks, at one point Michał Silwestruk acts aggressively and begins to kick in the air. As the intervening officers later explained in testimony, this was the moment they felt threatened.
“Everyone feels threatened and has the right to protect themselves, even those who show no signs of mental illness (…) He was shocked with a stun gun, resulting in persistent fear and terror. In this state, he did not know what was going on and wanted to protect himself because he felt his life was in danger, ”said the expert.
A camera mounted on the vest showed Radosław P kicking the 27-year-old in the face several times. He was covered in blood, but that didn't stop the police from attacking him. Michał Silwestruk is lying on the ground, clearly having trouble breathing, and has been strangled. The officers arresting him made it clear that they were prepared to “cut off his oxygen.”
Tragic intervention in Inowrocław. Testimony of the second patrol
Przemysław D. decided to call an ambulance when the 27-year-old man, who had been strangled by a police officer and was lying in a pool of blood, started having characteristic wheezing sounds. He claimed in his testimony that he did it soon after arriving at the apartment, but camera footage clearly shows it happened just 12 minutes later.
A few more minutes pass and the previously called backup arrives. Two more police officers arrive. When he entered the room, he noticed that the man was not breathing.
“I saw Officer Radosław P. next to this man, and I think he was holding this man. I remember this man lying there, he didn't say anything. We didn't see this guy move (…) After a while we realized there might be something wrong with this guy, he said he needed to be resuscitated. I don't remember whether it was me or my patrol colleague (…),'' said one witness. Police officers arrived at the scene.
Moments later, a team of paramedics appears at the apartment and takes over resuscitation operations. Michał Silwestruk was taken to hospital where he died a few hours later.
The death of 27-year-old Michał from Inowrocław. The police officer's testimony is a lie.
The tragic intervention by the Inowrocław officers, although fully documented, is presented in a completely different way. Przemysław D.'s notes mention the aggressiveness of the 27-year-old, who feared for his life after finding live ammunition.
“We tried to ask questions, but he did not answer questions logically. During that time, we noticed that there were cartridges on the kitchen counter, which were live rounds. A man was in possession of a firearm. “There was a risk that this could have happened,” the police officer said. I wrote.
“After going to the living room, we also tried to ask the guy, but he became enraged and started acting very aggressively towards us. tried to attack with kicks (…) Therefore, in order to repel the guy, in the event of an attack, if physical force turned out to be insufficient, we would use a taser directly against him We took enforcement measures, including using guns,” he added.
However, the shell casings mentioned by the officers were actually discovered just 40 minutes after the intervention began, when Michał Silwestruk was being resuscitated. The memo also makes no mention of the previous handcuffs, which ruled out the possibility of Taser use.
Death of Michał Silwestruk. Prosecutors soften charges against police officers
Two days after the intervention, both officers were dismissed from their positions as police officers. An investigation has begun, and prosecutors will charge him with assault resulting in death. Such conduct is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A short time later, it was decided to change the classification of the act to manslaughter, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
– Prosecutors classified this act as a deliberate abuse of public power. Particularly cruel and intentional abuse of a person legally deprived of liberty. The consequences of the police officer's actions are classified as manslaughter – explained prosecutor Agnieszka Adamuska Okonska, adding that Michał Silwestruk's death was the result of the following chain of events: long stew.
A forensic opinion issued after the 27-year-old's autopsy leaves no doubt as to the cause of death. It states that the cause of death “occurred in the form of acute multiorgan cardiopulmonary failure with the onset of shock, as a result of sudden cardiac arrest during forced intervention by police officers.”
The document also said there was no reason to believe that psychoactive substances the man had previously taken may have contributed to his death. According to the experts, “When the intervention began, the injured person was no longer in the psychomotor alert phase, but in the 'rest' phase.''
Michał Silwestruk has passed away. police officer writes letter to priest
Polsat News journalists managed to find out that both police officers currently in custody did not wish to testify. They also maintain their innocence. Przemysław D., who used the stun gun six times, gave his version of events in a letter to the priest.
“We found the apartment completely destroyed (…). From its condition we “fixed” the apartment in a stable position so as not to pose a threat to ourselves or ourselves. ' and immediately decided to call an ambulance. Unfortunately, in our service, situations can get very complicated…the man starts resisting us, it gets out of control, the situation escalates, and I get scared. The situation escalated to the point where I felt my life was in danger. .. As a result of all this, the man stopped breathing and I immediately rescued him and resuscitated him until the ambulance arrived,” he claimed.
“The next day I was arrested. Absurd charges were made against me that had nothing to do with my actions on the spot. I knew that Almighty God knows the truth. “If I had really committed such a crime, I would not have written you this letter,” he added.
Father Michał of Inowrocław: “I am willing to sacrifice myself for this cause.''
– I'm trying to hold on, but mentally I can't take it anymore. I will close this matter. If necessary, I will sacrifice myself for this cause to show justice in Poland, even if it means losing my life, – said Michał's father, Maciej Sylwestruk. Masu.
The trial of Przemysław D. and Radosław P. has just begun. Prosecutors have already submitted an indictment to the court. The former police officers will be represented by a team of lawyers. Despite requests, they declined to comment.
“Event”: Skeleton of a fin whale at Hel Marine Base/Porsat News
