Investigations are continuing with 17 arrests now made amid claims a fatal crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough was sparked by a feud between rival crime gangs.
Cleveland Police made five more arrests on Tuesday following the crash which killed two police officers and five young men. All seven were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, going the wrong way down the A66 at South Bank, hit an armed response vehicle heading in the opposite direction at 3.39am on Saturday (August 22).
Yesterday, the force said it had made the five arrests with the assistance of the National Crime Agency and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit. The force said they were a boy aged 16, an 18-year-old and a man of 21, all on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group; a 55-year-old on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 23-year-old on suspicion of making threats to kill.
Court appearances and charges
Cleveland Police said two of the 12 people previously arrested have now appeared in court following the horrific crash. Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Court, Redcar, appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close, Redcar, was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21, charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, lost their lives in the crash. The five people who died in the Passat were Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak. Police have previously said that the five young men may have had links to 'serious and organised criminal activity'.
Ram-raid attack on victim's father's home
According to the Mirror, the home of Cole Worthy's father was allegedly ram-raided at 3am on Saturday, just 40 minutes before the devastating crash. It is alleged that a Volvo XC60 was used, and that vehicle is now central to the police investigation into the tragedy.
The house is believed to belong to Gye Worthy, Cole's father. A vehicle deliberately reversed into the front window twice, causing extensive damage, according to those living close to the scene.
Within minutes, a VW Passat containing his son Cole and four friends was racing around Middlesbrough, pursuing the Volvo allegedly involved in the attack. The Passat was later spotted by a police patrol, resulting in the horrific crash that killed PC Clough and PC Blades.
There is no suggestion Gye Worthy, 39, a company director, was involved in any criminal activity. But the attack on his home appeared to be the flashpoint for the chase between rival gangs.
The chain of events that led to the tragedy began in Acklam, Middlesbrough. One neighbour of the Worthys said Cole's father had lived at the address for around ten years and led 'a normal life'. Another heard a 'loud bang' and looked out to see the damage.
Cleveland Police confirmed both the Volvo and VW Passat were part of their enquiries in the early hours of August 22. But they declined to comment on claims that rival gangs were involved in the police chase that led to the crash.
Asked about the balloon releases held in tribute to the young men, locals said: “It’s disgraceful, the tributes should just be for the bobbies who died.”
Inquests and fundraising
Inquests were due to open on Thursday morning for the two officers while hearings for the young men in the Passat were scheduled for the afternoon at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said: “This has been a fast-moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.”
He went on to say: “We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.”
More than £945,000 has been raised for the families of the two police officers who were killed. A fundraiser created by the Cleveland Police Federation said funds raised would be split equally between the two officers’ families and the federation would continue to provide support.
