Driver of 'Hummer' Demands Money from Police to Charge Vehicle, Suspected of Drug Influence

On February 11, 2023, the investigative division of the Yerevan Center and Norq-Maros administrative districts received a report from the Police of the Republic of Armenia regarding an incident that occurred on February 10 at around 11:30 PM. A 'Hummer' brand vehicle approached traffic police officers at Republic Square, with the driver demanding money to charge the vehicle.

According to the Investigative Committee, after receiving a refusal, the driver displayed blatant disrespect towards the public and drove the vehicle the wrong way down Abovyan Street. He ignored police officers' signals to stop, continuing his reckless journey along Aram, P. Byuzand, V. Sargsyan, Agatangeghos, Tigran the Great, and Amiryan streets, deliberately damaging eight parked civilian vehicles in the process. The driver then maneuvered to a non-traffic area opposite the Government's administrative building, where he struck a police officer with his vehicle, intentionally damaging three police cars.

In an attempt to prevent these actions, police officers fired several rounds at the tires of the aforementioned vehicle from close range to stop it. However, the driver continued to flee from the scene, leaving the vehicle under the archway of building 7 on Agatangeghos Street in Yerevan and escaping on foot.

On February 11, a criminal case was initiated in the investigative division under articles 297 (part 3), 452 (part 3), and 264 (part 2, point 5) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. During the investigation, fired cartridge cases, the front registration plate of the 'Hummer,' and fragments of damaged tires were found at the scene. The 'Hummer,' as well as the police and civilian vehicles, were examined and taken to a secure location for further inspection.

Witnesses and victims, primarily police officers, were questioned with procedural statuses assigned. It was established that the 'Hummer' belonged to a resident of the Ararat region, who was arrested on February 11 at 01:40 AM and presented to the prosecuting authority. The investigation revealed that the vehicle was driven by his son, G.S., who was suspected of being under the influence of drugs. Although the father had hidden the vehicle keys from his son, the young man managed to find the spare key, drove from the region to Yerevan, and used narcotics.

At 03:20 AM on February 11, G.S., a resident of Ararat village born in 1997, was arrested in Yerevan on reasonable suspicion of hooliganism, interfering with the lawful activities of a public official, deliberately damaging property, and drug possession. During a personal search, 1.9 grams of a substance resembling crystalline 'Methamphetamine' wrapped in paper was discovered. G.S. provided a confession during interrogation. Several examinations have been scheduled, and the investigation is ongoing.

Note: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the established procedures of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a legally binding court decision.