Police stop leads to high-speed car chase

POLICE were involved in a dramatic late-night car chase last week.

It began when a police unit attempted to pull over a man who was driving erratically.

He refused to stop, sparking a high-speed pursuit that would eventually call in the services of a helicopter, an armed response unit, a dog team and 16 police cars.

The chase ended when the man abandoned his vehicle and attempted to hide in an industrial site in Walthamstow. He was caught by a police dog after threatening an officer with a gun.

Simon Jones, of the Safer Streets Team, said: "It showed the advantage of having 16 cars out on the streets rather than the usual two. This man's driving was pretty erratic so we decided to pull him over. He went speeding off and we gave chase.

"The man jumped out of his vehicle and we gave chase.

"One of our officers was behind him when he spun round and pointed a gun in his face.

"The officer did the right thing and didn't continue the pursuit.

"We caught up with him later at an industrial site.

"The dogs smelt him out and we arrested him that night."

The high speed pursuit took place on Wednesday, January 21. Police attempted to stop a red Ford Ka at 11.15pm, but it sped off, prompting the chase.

The driver abandoned his car in Millfield Avenue, Walthamstow, and police continued their pursuit on foot.

The chase almost ended disastrously in an alley off Billet Road, when the fugitive, said to be 21, pulled a gun on one of the officers who was close to catching him.

Police let the man run away, safe in the knowledge that he was being tracked by a helicopter and an armed response unit. A police dog found him in a nearby industrial estate and he was charged with weapons offences.

Waltham Forest's Safer Streets team believe the arrest was a vindication of its new policy of flooding the streets with up to 16 cars on a single evening.

The new scheme, which takes place roughly once a fortnight, is designed to crack down on street robbers and burglars.

12:38 Thursday 30th January 2003

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