Police officer run over by suspect could face ‘life-changing’ injuries

BIRMINGHAM: A police constable who was run over by a suspected car thief is facing “potentially life-changing” injuries, a senior officer has said.

The married 42-year-old traffic officer from West Midlands Police suffered a broken pelvis and head, abdominal and other internal injuries and was set to return to the operating theatre later on Sunday.

A 29-year-old man remains in custody after being detained on suspicion of the attempted murder in Moseley, Birmingham, on Saturday afternoon. Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “appalled” by the “sickening attack” on the officer, who underwent surgery on Saturday evening.

Superintendent Tom Joyce said the overriding sentiment of all officers at the force is one of shock — adding that the culprit can expect to face “the full weight of the judicial system”.Police said the traffic officer was in Moorcroft Road, Moseley, tracing a Range Rover Sport which had been stolen minutes earlier from a woman. The force said that as the officer attempted to arrest the suspect at about 4.45pm on Saturday, he was “violently assaulted and punched to the ground”. He was then run over by the suspect as he got behind the wheel of the officer’s marked patrol car.

Police said it is understood the man drove the vehicle for around a mile into Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, where he abandoned it and tried to steal another car. Back-up officers, including armed police, cornered the suspect, who was Tasered and arrested.

The 29-year-old man, from Hall Green, was detained along with a 24-year-old man who has been arrested for car theft, the force said.Speaking to PA after the incident, Joyce said: “Without going into great detail, we know that he suffered a broken pelvis and some other internal injuries as a result of the incident. It’s difficult to give a prognosis at the moment. They are certainly potentially life-changing — but we are relieved to say, we understand they are not believed to be life-threatening. His wife is aware of the incident and is with him at this time.”

Addressing how the officer’s colleagues are feeling, Joyce said: “I think the overriding sentiment of all officers is one of shock. These incidents fortunately don’t happen every day and they are not incredibly common — but when they do happen they are very sobering because it reminds everyone just how dangerous the profession of policing can be.”