Decapitated release statement after kidnapping arrest, rape accusations

Polish metal band Decapitated have released their first public statement after being arrested on charges of first-degree kidnapping and accused of rape. Their statement, posted to Facebook, reads:

While we are not perfect human beings, we are not kidnappers, rapists, or criminals. As such, we strongly deny the allegations that have recently been brought against us.

We ask that everyone please reserve their judgement until a definitive outcome has been reached, as charges have yet to be pressed. Full testimony and evidence will be presented in due time, and we have faith in that process.

As there is uncertainty regarding a timeline for prospective proceedings and out of respect for fans and promoters, due to the severity of the claims, we have cancelled all planned touring.

All social media platforms have been temporarily disabled as they have been used as destinations for defamatory and malicious remarks. We would like to point out that the statements in the published police report were given prior to an arrest. At that point, no member of the band was aware of an active warrant being issued.

All four members of the band are currently in jail, having been arrested on Saturday (9/9) in Santa Ana, CA. According to The Spokesman-Review:

The band members were arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office after their Friday night concert in Santa Ana. They have been identified as 27-year-old Michal M. Lysejko, 35-year-old Waclaw J. Kieltyka, 31-year-old Rafal T. Piotrowski and 30-year-old Hubert E. Wiecek. All are Polish nationals.

The four are in the Los Angeles County Jail awaiting extradition to Spokane. Fuller said additional charges are possible. The case is still under investigation by the department’s Special Victims Unit.

The members of Decapitated are accused of kidnapping and raping a woman in their tour bus after their 8/31 concert with Thy Art is Murder at The Pin in Spokane, WA. The Spokesman-Review went on to detail the accusations (warning, they’re disturbing):

One woman “described being excited to be on the bus, and then one of the band members began grabbing her breasts,” court documents say. “He was later identified as the drummer, Michal Lysejko.”

The same woman “was uncomfortable and said the band members began speaking to each other in Polish,” court documents say. “She described the ‘vibe’ in the bus changed, and one of the members began looking at them like they were prey.”

The woman said she looked at her friend “to signal they needed to get out of there.” She then used the bathroom and was followed by the lead singer, Piotrowski, according to court documents.

The woman told police Piotrowski began kissing her as she finished using the bathroom, and she began resisting when he started undoing her belt, according to court documents. She said she wanted to leave the bus with her friend, but a band member indicated her friend had already left, saying, “You have to have fun. She left you.”

The woman “attempted to push Piotrowski away but he grabbed her arm and spun her around to where she was facing the sink and mirror in the bathroom,” court documents say. “She saw in the mirror and out of the corner of her eye each of the band members taking turns raping her.”

The friend, meanwhile, said she watched the band members rape the other woman, and Piotrowski asked her to perform oral sex on him. When the friend refused, court documents say, “she was pushed to the ground and received bruises to her knees and shins.”
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The woman was taken to Providence Holy Family Hospital for a sexual assault examination.

Detectives noted she had “significant bruising to her upper arms consistent with being restrained” and “small abrasions to her knuckles that were scabbed over.” During the rape, she said, she “was digging her fist into the wall to try and distract herself from what was happening.”

When detectives from the Los Angeles County Sherrif’s Office questioned the band, Waclaw J. Kieltyka said he saw Rafal T. Piotrowski and Hubert E. Wiecek engaged in sexual activities with a woman in the bathroom, and agreed to give a DNA sample. Other band members would not provide DNA samples and didn’t offer much information beyond there being some kind of party on the bus. Some also asked for a translator before they would answer questions.