Five more people have been arrested in connection with the crash on the A66 that killed seven people on Saturday, Cleveland Police have confirmed. The arrests bring the total number of people arrested in response to the incident to 17.
Investigation into suspected criminal activity
A major investigation, launched by Cleveland Police, is looking into suspected criminal activity connected to the events leading up to the fatal collision near Middlesbrough, which killed serving officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
As well as the two officers, the five occupants of the other car also died. They were Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.
Police confirmed on Monday that 12 people had been arrested in response to the incident. The further five arrests were confirmed in an update issued on Tuesday afternoon.
Details of the new arrests
The activity has been led by Cleveland Police and supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).
The five new arrests are as follows:
- A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of participation in an organised crime group.
- An 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of participation in an organised crime group.
- A 21-year-old man arrested on suspicion of participation in an organised crime group.
- A 55-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
- A 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of threats to kill.
Following the 12 arrests made on Monday, a 19-year-old man, from Redcar, was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 25 August.
A 26-year-old man, from Redcar, was charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property. He has been remanded in custody until he appears at Teesside Crown Court on Monday 21 September.
Police response and community impact
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.
"The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect. 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.
"Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime. Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy.
"Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the upmost professionalism.
"I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family."
