Cleveland Police have confirmed seven more men have been arrested following the A66 wrong-way crash, bringing the total number of arrests to 24 as part of an operation to disrupt organised crime. Several of those arrested have been charged with serious offences, and a number of offenders have been recalled to prison.
Latest arrests and seizures
The latest arrests include four men, aged 35, 25, 40, and 21, who are in custody being questioned on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life, arson, and possession with intent to supply class A drugs. All four were in a vehicle stopped by police on Kingsley Road in Grangetown at 10.30pm yesterday.
The arson offence relates to a caravan that was set alight on Atlee Road in Middlesbrough at 5.30am on Wednesday, while the criminal damage with intent to endanger life relates to a suspected ramming of a garden wall in Steele Crescent in Middlesbrough in the early hours of Sunday.
Class A drugs and a Mercedes car were seized following the arrests. Officers also seized £15,000 in cash after the three other men were arrested.
Three released on bail
The three other men are a 23-year-old held on suspicion of threats to kill, a 42-year-old detained on suspicion of threats to kill and possession of criminal property, and a 30-year-old arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property. All three have been released on conditional bail.
Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: '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.'
Background of the crash
The latest arrests come after a crash in the early hours of August 22, leaving seven people dead, including two police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38. Both were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, which had been pursued by police seconds before, hit their marked armed response vehicle.
The Volkswagen was driving the wrong way down the dual carriageway near Middlesbrough, while the police car was travelling in the correct direction. All five passengers of the VW, who were young men, died at the scene.
