According to the Hellenic Police, officers from the Crime Prevention and Suppression Unit (OPKE) of the Argolis Police Directorate attempted to stop a vehicle for inspection in the early hours of Wednesday, July 8.
Police said the driver ignored signals to stop, accelerated in an attempt to escape and tried to ram officers who were outside their patrol vehicles, as well as police vehicles during the pursuit.
The chase continued as the driver moved in an extremely dangerous manner before the vehicle was eventually blocked by patrol cars. Police said the driver struck the vehicles, abandoned his car and attempted to flee on foot by climbing over a wall.
Two officers then used their service weapons, injuring the man. He was initially transported by ambulance to a hospital before being transferred to a hospital in the Athens area, where he was being treated. On Wednesday afternoon, reports said he had been declared brain-dead.
Air pistol recovered
Police said an air pistol was found and seized along the route of the driver’s escape, near the location where officers first attempted to stop the vehicle. The weapon will be sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for forensic examination.
The incident was immediately reported to the relevant prosecutor. The two officers who fired their weapons were arrested under the expedited legal procedure and are facing charges related to firearms legislation violations and grievous bodily harm.
A disciplinary investigation has also been launched to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Nafplio Department for Crime Investigation and Detection, with assistance from the Internal Affairs Division of the Hellenic Police.
