2 weeks Ago
A police dog and his handler helped to track down a suspect after a car was used to ram a force vehicle with the officer still inside. A sergeant from Heywood's neighbourhood team was out on patrol at around 5.30pm yesterday, Saturday, when a man wanted in connection with a "threats to kill" case was reportedly spotted in Middleton Road.
The officer lost sight of the car before making her way to his home address and finding him in his vehicle, police said. The man noticed the police car behind him and is said to have attempted to ram the police car with the officer still inside. The officer was not injured in the incident.
The suspect drove off in his car, driving over a pedestrianised area in attempts to get away, police said. He abandoned his vehicle a short distance away and fled on foot. The tactical dog unit was then deployed to the area in the search to find him.
Police dog Harley and his handler located a man in a back garden. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, failing to stop for police and dangerous driving. Upon a search, a large bag containing cannabis was found hidden.
Empty snap bags and a phone was also located. The man was further arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs and remains in custody. Inspector Victoria Holdsworth, of Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) specialist operations branch, said: “The man tried to flee by attempting to ram a police car not thinking about the injuries this could have caused to the officer.
“Thanks to our canine capabilities in the force who responded immediately and located the man, we were able to make this arrest. “Our highly trained police dogs are a vital part of our policing family in GMP, and police dogs and specially trained handlers are deployed across the force day and night to keep people safe.”.
