Police Officer Injured During Halloween High Speed Pursuit

Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Saturday, 2nd November 2024, at 12:00hrs

The vehicle reached speeds of 80mph and travelled on the wrong side of the road in a bid to evade capture

A Police officer has been taken to hospital for treatment after being injured during a high-speed pursuit in Shildon.

A car suspected of being involved in an earlier burglary reached speeds of 80mph through residential streets and drove on the wrong side of the road during the pursuit.

In a statement released on Friday, Durham Police said:

“Putting ourselves in harm’s way to keep you safe.

Last night, as families enjoyed trick-or-treating, a Ford Focus was spotted driving dangerously through Shildon.

The vehicle was believed to have been involved in a burglary earlier in the day and officers from Durham’s Roads and Armed Policing Unit as well as the Police Helicopter began a pursuit.

The car put other road users at serious risk, driving with no lights on and at speeds of up to 80mph on the wrong side of the road at points through Chilton and Ferryhill.

To bring an end to the dangerous driving, officers made tactical contact, and stopped the car before four suspects legged it on foot.

The driver and a passenger were detained at the scene.

The driver, a 21-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop and having no insurance.

The passenger, a 25-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Both remain in police custody and an investigation is ongoing to trace the other two suspects.

An officer was injured during the pursuit and was taken to hospital for treatment.”