Four men have been arrested after a house was reportedly rammed in Middlesbrough, as part of an alleged organised crime clampdown launched after a fatal crash that killed two police officers.
The arrests bring the total number of people detained since the crash to 24, Cleveland Police said on Friday, August 28.
Arrests after Steele Crescent incident
Officers confirmed that four men, aged 35, 25, 40 and 21, were being held on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life after a house in Steele Crescent was reportedly rammed on Thursday morning.
They were also being questioned over alleged arson after a caravan was set alight in Atlee Road on Wednesday morning, and a drugs offence. The men were in a vehicle when they were stopped by police on Kingsley Road in Grangetown on Thursday night, and a quantity of class A drugs was seized.
Other arrests and total figure
Three other men were also arrested: a 23-year-old on suspicion of threats to kill, a 42-year-old on suspicion of threats to kill and possession of criminal property, and a 30-year-old on suspicion of possession of criminal property. All three have been released on conditional bail.
The operation was launched after PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died in a head-on crash with a Volkswagen Passat driving the wrong way down the A66 in South Bank in the early hours of Saturday. Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17, also died in the crash.
Police commitment to pursue suspects
Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: “This latest disruptive activity now brings the total number of arrests to 24 since the investigation commenced.
“Several suspects arrested throughout the course of this week have been charged with serious offences and a number of offenders have been recalled to prison. This robust approach demonstrates our commitment and determination to pursue those who we believe are intent on causing serious violence and harm to our communities.
“Be assured, our relentless pursuit of suspected organised criminals will not waver. I want to encourage anyone who believes serious violence and organised crime is taking place in their neighbourhood to report it so we can keep on taking action.”
Earlier on Friday, detectives confirmed they are not linking a house fire that killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt to the A66 crash. Hundreds of extra police officers have been drafted in to support officers after a series of recent incidents in the Middlesbrough and County Durham area, starting with the head-on crash.
