37-Year-Old with an Arrest Warrant Assaults Police Officers
Police arrived at a cove near the village of Kraj following a report of a sailboat disturbing swimmers, only to find a man who was wanted for a crime against the family.
Police arrived at a cove near the village of Kraj following a report of a sailboat disturbing swimmers, only to find a man who was wanted for a crime against the family.
A real drama unfolded on Friday, August 8, 2026, in a cove near the village of Kraj on the island of Pašman. Police officers from the Zadar Maritime and Airport Police Station received a report at around 5:40 PM that an anchored sailboat was disturbing swimmers, but what was supposed to be a routine intervention quickly escalated into a physical altercation and an arrest.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officers found a man and his dog on the vessel. A quick check revealed that the man was a 37-year-old Croatian citizen who was the subject of a search warrant. According to the Zadar Police Department, he was suspected of committing a criminal offense related to crimes against marriage, children, and family in the Karlovac County area.
As soon as the officers began their procedure, the man actively resisted. At one point, he threw himself off the sailboat into the sea, pulling his dog along with him, and treated the animal inappropriately, submerging its head underwater several times. After they pulled him onto the official vessel, his aggressive behavior continued. He flailed his arms and legs uncontrollably, intending to damage the vessel, and then physically attacked the police officers, insulting and belittling them.
Due to the escalation of violence, the 37-year-old was arrested using coercive measures. After being brought to the police station, a breathalyzer test confirmed the presence of alcohol in his system. A medical examination at Zadar General Hospital confirmed minor physical injuries to both the arrestee and one police officer.
The situation was further complicated by the owner's dog, which jumped onto the official vessel on its own during the intervention. Due to the risk of the vessel running aground and the potential for the animal to attack the officers, in agreement with the competent communal officer on the shore, the dog was released into the sea. The communal officer then took charge of the animal and continued to care for it. The police are continuing their criminal investigation and proceedings against the 37-year-old.
