Police Officer Breaks 19-Year-Old Activist’s Arm; Prosecution Drops Case Again

The Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office has once again closed the investigation into an incident from late 2020, during which a teenager suffered a broken arm while being detained by police.

The “Walk for the Future” Protest

In late 2020, Greenpeace Poland and the All-Poland Women’s Strike organized a climate demonstration in Warsaw’s Ujazdowskie Avenue. Police detained several participants, leading to secondary protests in solidarity at the Wilcza and Zakroczymska stations.

During the demonstration near the police station, officers ordered the crowd to disperse, citing COVID-19 restrictions, and warned that force would be used if necessary. Following noise complaints after 10:00 PM, officers were ordered to intervene.

Investigation into the Arrest and Injury

During the police action, a 19-year-old activist suffered a broken arm while being led to a police vehicle. An officer applied an elbow-shoulder lock, while the activist attempted to free herself. Experts concluded the fracture was the result of an unfortunate coincidence.

At the time, MEP Adam Bielan commented on the incident, stating that such outcomes are an expected consequence of participating in illegal demonstrations.

Prosecution’s Decision to Close the Case

Warsaw District Prosecutor Piotr Antoni Skiba announced the second dismissal of the case. While a previous court ruling had overturned a prior dismissal regarding the use of force, prosecutors claim all court-ordered tasks, including additional witness testimonies and expert analysis, have been completed.

Prosecutors maintained that the elbow-shoulder lock was applied correctly and that the officer did not increase pressure unnecessarily. The fracture was attributed to a combination of the officer’s hold and the activist’s sudden movements. The ruling is not yet final and may be appealed.