Driver flees police in Cēsis at 132 km/h, suspicious substance found in car
A man in Cēsis allegedly drove under the influence and fled from police at speeds up to 132 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. Police found a marijuana-like substance in the car and launched a criminal case.
On Wednesday, August 20, officers of the State Police Vidzeme regional department received a report of a possibly intoxicated driver operating an Audi in Cēsis. Police spotted the vehicle near a shopping center and decided to stop it to check the information.
Chase and dangerous driving
When the patrol car activated its lights and siren, the Audi driver ignored the signal to stop and instead fled. During the chase he repeatedly violated traffic rules — crossing an intersection against a red light, ignoring a road sign prohibiting further travel without stopping, and reaching speeds of up to 132 km/h in a zone where the limit is 50 km/h. His actions endangered both himself and other road users.
Arrest near a pond
The chase ended in the yard of a residential property, where the driver drove up to a pond and abandoned the car. Both the driver and a passenger tried to flee on foot, but officers managed to detain them. One of the men showed clear signs of being under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Despite being warned of possible criminal liability for refusing a breath alcohol test, he refused to take it.
Suspicious substance and legal proceedings
While inspecting the car's interior, police found a bag containing a greenish-brown substance resembling marijuana, whose origin has not yet been established. The substance has been sent for forensic examination. As a result, the State Police has opened a criminal case under provisions of the Criminal Law covering driving under the influence and resisting police officers, along with five separate administrative violation proceedings for various offenses. Police note that no person is considered guilty until proven so under the procedure established by law.
