A 38-year-old man from Warsaw has been placed in temporary detention for three months following an attempted abduction of an 11-year-old boy in Ciechanów. The court in Ciechanów issued the decision, and the suspect was apprehended due to the swift actions of bystanders who witnessed the event.
According to Magdalena Sakowska, spokesperson for the Ciechanów Police Department, the suspect has refused to provide any explanations or motives for his actions.
The incident occurred on Monday morning around 9 a.m. when the suspect allegedly knocked the boy off his bicycle on Płocka Street in downtown Ciechanów and attempted to force him into a parked car. Witnesses intervened, and the suspect fled the scene by car. Fortunately, the boy was unharmed and was quickly reunited with his mother.
Police launched an investigation immediately, initially considering charges under Article 191 of the Penal Code, which covers the use of force or threats to compel someone to act, carrying a sentence of up to three years in prison. By Monday evening, officers had located and arrested the 38-year-old in Warsaw.
The collected evidence led to formal charges of attempted deprivation of liberty. The suspect, who has a prior record of theft and burglary, is not related to the boy. Witness testimony, including details of the car’s make and registration number, played a crucial role in identifying and capturing the suspect.
Under Article 189 of the Penal Code, deprivation of liberty can result in a prison sentence of three months to five years, with harsher penalties of up to 15 years if the victim is particularly vulnerable due to age or physical condition. The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Ciechanów.