Police Dog Hardy Helps Arrest Three Men

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Officers on Upper Richmond Road Putney saw vehicle travelling on false license plates

Three arrested for multiple offences after pursuit. On Sunday 27th September 2020 at around 6PM, traffic officers on Upper Richmond Road saw a vehicle travelling on false license plates and signalled for it to stop. The vehicle had been stolen earlier this year.

The driver of the vehicle ignored the blue lights and sirens of our traffic officers indicating for him to stop, and a pursuit ensued. Driving at speed, the vehicle was followed to Beechwood Close in Wandsworth where the pursuit came to a sudden end.

Colliding with a parked car, the three occupants of the vehicle pulled themselves from the vehicle and scrambled to evade us, running and throwing packages from the car left and right. Officers from our dogs unit were quickly on scene – braking to a halt, racing to open the boot of the car, unbolting the cage and releasing Police Dog Hardy to do his duty.

After a short chase by Police Dog Hardy and his officer colleague, one male was brought to the ground with one expert bite. The male was detained, and arrested quickly on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Leaving the suspect in the care of other officers, our colleague then takes a look around. An area search was undertaken to find the two outstanding suspects. Thankfully a member of public allowed officers through to their back garden.

Walking through their extension a thump came from above. Then a scrambling noise. The males were on the flat roof of the single storey building. Walking outside to where officers could see the males it seemed they had backed themselves into a corner. Here, the males made the smart decision of handing themselves to police.

Now detained, a search of the roof uncovered a bag containing a quantity of pills. Each male was also searched, uncovering more suspected drugs. Both males were arrested for several offences including Possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, theft of a motor vehicle and handling stolen goods. The driver of the vehicle was additionally arrested for dangerous driving and for the offence of failing to appear at court due to a previous offence.

All three males have been taken to a south London custody suite. Section 18 post-arrest searches were undertaken by our violence suppression unit at a linked address, where a quantity of controlled substance was also found. The male bitten by Police Dog Hardy was examined in hospital after receiving a minor injury.

At this time the investigation is still ongoing.

September 28, 2020