A total of 24 people have now been arrested in connection with the Cleveland Police investigation into the A66 crash which killed seven people, including two police officers, in the early hours of Saturday morning
Seven people, includig two police officers, died in a crash on the A66(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Seven additional individuals have been arrested as part of a police operation targeting alleged organised crime following a fatal collision that claimed seven lives, including two police officers. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, lost their lives when their armed response vehicle collided with a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction on the A66 at South Bank during the early hours of Saturday morning.
Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17, also perished in the incident. Authorities subsequently confirmed they were investigating “serious organised criminal activity” connected to the Passat.
Officers have this evening (Friday, August 28) confirmed that seven people have been arrested as part of the operation launched following the crash. Four men, aged 35, 25, 40, and 21, are being held on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life.
This follows reports that a vehicle collided with a property in Steele Crescent, Middlesbrough. The men are also being questioned in connection with an alleged arson incident after a caravan was set ablaze in Atlee Road on Wednesday morning, as well as a drugs offence.
Cleveland Police stated that the men were travelling in a vehicle that was intercepted by officers on Kingsley Road in Grangetown on Thursday. Authorities confirmed that a quantity of class A drugs had been recovered.
The three other men arrested were a 23-year-old man, on suspicion of threats to kill, a 42-year-old on suspicion of threats to kill and possession of criminal property, and a 30-year-old on suspicion of possession of criminal property. All three have been released on conditional bail.
This takes the overall number of arrests since the collision to 24. Earlier on Friday, detectives confirmed they are not connecting a house fire which claimed the lives of a seven-year-old girl and her aunt to the A66 collision which resulted in seven deaths, including two police officers.
Hundreds of additional police officers have been brought in to support colleagues following a string of recent incidents across the Middlesbrough and County Durham area. Cleveland Police Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: “This latest disruptive activity now brings the total number of arrests to 24 since the investigation commenced.
“Several suspects arrested throughout the course of this week have been charged with serious offences and a number of offenders have been recalled to prison. 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.”
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