A millionaire banker previously questioned in the notorious 'Putney Pusher' case has been re-arrested, this time on suspicion of possessing Class A and Class B drugs, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Incident Background
The development comes nearly seven years after a 33-year-old woman was shoved into the path of an oncoming double-decker bus on Putney Bridge in south-west London. The moment was captured on CCTV and viewed millions of times.
The 44-year-old suspect had earlier been detained at his £1.4 million west London home on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm after officers identified him as the jogger seen pushing the pedestrian into the road.
Police Statement
'On Monday, 15 June, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm,' a Met Police spokesman said. 'The arrest relates to an incident on 5 May 2017, where a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in Putney. Once in police custody, he was also arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B drugs.'
It is understood that the man has reportedly served in the Armed Forces, and that the arrest was carried out after significant new information came to light in recent months. The suspect has now been re-arrested and, since bailed, is pending further investigation.
Previous Investigations
Since 2017, more than 50 people of interest have been highlighted and interviewed by police, three of whom were also arrested and released without charge before the enquiry was closed in 2018.
CCTV footage taken from inside the 430 bus, which was travelling at 12mph, was released by the police to help identify the suspect. Bus driver Oliver Salbris described his quick-thinking actions, saying: 'If I hadn't swerved, I would have smashed her head. It was reflex. The consequences would have been terrible.'
The bus stopped, and some passengers rushed to help the victim, who suffered minor injuries. Around 15 minutes later, the woman spotted the jogger running back across the bridge and attempted to speak to him, but 'he did not acknowledge her', police said.
