Man Remains In Custody After 'Sickening Attack' On Birmingham Police Officer

11 August 2019, 05:59 | Updated: 11 August 2019, 06:04

A 29-year-old man remains in custody after being detained on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said the officer is being treated for head and pelvic injuries after being run over by a suspected car thief.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was "appalled" by the "sickening attack" on the officer, who underwent surgery on Saturday evening.

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, the force added.

Ms Patel tweeted: "I am appalled by the sickening attack on one of our brave police officers @WMPolice.

"My thoughts are with the officer and his family. I wish him a good recovery and I am being kept informed of the situation following this attack."

West Midlands 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.

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Boycott said: "This is a shocking attack in which a member of our police family has been seriously hurt while trying to detain a crime suspect.

"Attacks on our officers and staff won't be tolerated and we will always seek the toughest possible criminal justice outcome for offenders."

The incident comes just days after Metropolitan Police officer Stuart Outten was left with head and hand injuries after challenging a motor offences suspect allegedly armed with a machete in east London.

Muhammad Rodwan, 56, has been charged with the attempted murder of PC Outten, 28, and possession of an offensive weapon following the incident in Leyton just after midnight on Thursday.