Police Officer Clings to Drug Dealer's Car in Desperate Suffolk Chase
This is the dramatic moment a police officer was forced to hang onto the side of a drug dealer's car as the suspect desperately tried to flee a routine stop in Sudbury, Suffolk. The incident, captured on body-worn and dashcam footage, shows the terrifying ordeal faced by officers during what began as a simple vehicle inspection.
The Dangerous Confrontation Unfolds
On November 8 last year, officers stopped 33-year-old Josef Zielinski on suspicion of drug dealing, with a marked police car pulling in front of his vehicle and two officers approaching. As PC Owen Turner spoke to Zielinski through the open driver's door and his colleague stood by the front passenger door, the situation escalated rapidly.
Body-worn footage reveals Zielinski suddenly reversing his car, forcing PC Turner to jump into the vehicle and cling to its side to avoid being run over. Meanwhile, the other officer was knocked over and dragged by the moving car, creating a scene of chaos and immediate danger.
Officer's Harrowing Experience
PC Turner described fearing he "might die" during the incident and worrying that his "colleague and friend was either seriously injured or dead." Dashcam footage from a following vehicle captured the full scene as Zielinski reversed into a stationary car behind him.
Despite PC Turner managing to turn the vehicle off during the struggle, Zielinski restarted it before finally being removed from the car and detained by police. Both officers sustained only minor injuries from the violent confrontation.
Evidence and Legal Consequences
Following the struggle, police discovered 10 wraps of cocaine that Zielinski had discarded under the vehicle during the escape attempt. The evidence proved crucial in the subsequent legal proceedings.
Zielinski, of Barking, London, was sentenced to four years in prison on February 6 at Ipswich Crown Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges. These included possession with intent to supply cocaine, dangerous driving, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and criminal damage.
In addition to his prison sentence, Zielinski received a three-year driving ban, preventing him from operating any vehicle during that period.
Lasting Impact on Officers
PC Turner reflected on the incident, stating: "I conduct vehicle stops daily and what I thought would be a simple stop left me thinking that I might die and that my colleague and friend was either seriously injured or dead."
He added: "What Zielinski did showed his only desire was to escape, with no regard for anyone other than himself. This is something that I will never forget and it will stay with me forever."
The case highlights the unpredictable dangers police officers face during routine operations and the severe consequences for those who choose to violently resist arrest.
