Man gets suspended sentence after hitting police motorcycle

A 22-year-old man who crashed into a police motorcycle while fleeing a stop in Kontiolahti has been sentenced to more than nine months in suspended prison, Yle reports.

The North Karelia District Court convicted him of violently resisting a public official, aggravated endangerment of traffic safety, driving without a licence and attempted assault.

The man hit the motorcycle at about 60 kilometres per hour as he fled police on Old Nurmes Road in May 2025. He was riding an unregistered motocross bike that was not suitable for road use. It had no lights and its brakes did not work. He had attended a local gathering of moped riders.

The man denied the charges of violently resisting a public official and attempted aggravated assault. He said he had intended to escape, not to harm the officer or collide with the motorcycle. The prosecutor sought prison time for the first three offences, while the officer, who was the injured party, sought a conviction for attempted aggravated assault.

The Central Criminal Police initially investigated the case as attempted murder, but the suspected offence was downgraded to attempted manslaughter during the pre-trial investigation. The court’s ruling can be appealed to the Court of Appeal.