Three police officers injured when teen car thief smashed into vehiclesTHREE police officers were injured when a teenage car thief smashed into four vehicles during a high-speed chase through Northampton after conning a cab driver into believing his girlfriend was trying to kill herself.
The police officers escaped with minor injuries, believed to be bruising, as a result of the chase, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The suspect is understood to have tricked a driver from private hire firm, Phoenix Class, into believing his girlfriend was on the verge of committing suicide.
The driver agreed to take him home to Briar Hill for free but as he dropped him off, the 19-year-old collapsed on the pavement clutching his chest. When the driver went to help him, he was attacked.
The silver Mercedes was then driven at the terrified driver before being taken along Queen Eleanor Road, where it smashed into a member of the public’s vehicle.
Police were notified and immediately launched a pursuit of the stolen vehicle.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “After a short pursuit the vehicle was stopped in Rothersthorpe Road at 2.20am. A number of police cars were hit by the stolen vehicle and three police officers suffered minor injuries. A 19-year-old man from Northampton was arrested at the scene.”
The road was immediately sealed off to allow emergency services to clear the debris from the scene and recover the damaged police vehicles.
David Seaman, a director of Phoenix Class, based in Rothersthorpe Avenue, said: “I have been working in this business for 30 years and it’s the worst case we’ve ever known. Our driver was trying to be the Good Samaritan and gave him a lift out of the goodness of his heart and he’s ended up being lucky to have escaped with his life.
“It sounds as though the guy just flipped, he went berserk. I think our man was fortunate not to have been more seriously injured.
“You have to be very careful these days. We try to limit where we pick up from, to hotels and casinos. It can be very dangerous.
“I just hope it doesn’t stop people from trying to do the decent thing. Someone thought they were helping and that’s the thanks they get.”
The teenager, who has not yet been named, appeared in Northampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with a string of offences, including the attempted GBH of the driver, ABH, drink-driving, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and aggravated vehicle taking.
He was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until March when it will be heard at Northampton Crown Court.
The Chronicle & Echo revealed earlier this year that a report into police use of force between April 1, 2010 and March 31, this year, revealed a total of 125 police officers were injured in the line of duty, while 331 criminals were hurt during arrests.
The investigation also revealed there were eight instances where either a police officer or a member of the public suffered broken bones last year during arrests, while there were five dislocations, 34 injuries suffered as a result of PAVA spray and 15 injuries as a result of human bites.
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/ ... _1_3337222
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