The moment officer tackles two suspected bike thieves was caught on CCTV – but one suspect remains at large’Bike thieves’ tackled by city centre PC as he makes arrest
This was the high-adrenaline moment a Birmingham police officer ran through the city centre before launching himself at a motorbike thief suspect.
Pc Keelan Walsh was directed in by a CCTV operator as two men, who arrived on a stolen bike bearing an L plate, targeted a second machine near New Street Station last night, Thursday, January 29.
Footage released by West Midlands Police showed PC Keenan jumped on a masked man, who was sat on one of the bikes, before the suspect got off and fled.
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His suspected accomplice was also tackled by PC Keenan who, with the help of Pc Jess Roughley, arrested him at around 7pm.
The CCTV footage showed an operator tracking a suspicious motorbike being ridden in the city centre around a minute earlier, with two on board.
The bike had no registration plates on it, an L plate on the front, and the rider and his pillion passenger had their faces covered.
PC Keelan Walsh jumps into action, literally, leaping on to a motorbike to tackle a suspected motorbike thief in Navigation Street, Birmingham, and then arresting another
They pulled up next to another motorbike in Navigation Street next to Grand Central.
As one got on the second bike, the rider of the first bike was pounced upon by the officer. Pc Keenan then grabbed the second man and shouted ‘get on the ground, I’ll Taser you’.
He threw him to the floor and told colleagues: “One male detained and one running back towards The Ramp.” He then told the man: “Stay where you are. You’re under arrest on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.”
West Midlands Police officers would like to speak to this man in connection with the suspected theft of motor vehicles, one suspected offence caught on camera in Navigation Street, Birmingham
He breathlessly continued while placing handcuffs on the suspect and said: “You do not have to say anything.
“But it may harm your defence if you do not say when questioned anything you later mention in court. Anything you do so maybe given in evidence.”
An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft offences, and assault with intent to resist arrest.
PCs Keelan Walsh and Jess Roughley detain one suspected motorbike thief in Navigation Street, Birmingham, but another got away
Chief Insp Vicki Stott, of Birmingham Police, said: “This was absolutely first-rate work by the officers.
“Great communication between them and CCTV operators meant we recovered a stolen bike and stopped another from being taken.”
Police asked the public to help identify the man who escaped.
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A spokesperson for the force said: “The motorbike the men were riding had been stolen in Birmingham earlier in the day. A man aged 18 remains in custody today on suspicion of vehicle theft offences, and assault with intent to resist arrest.
“The second suspect managed to flee, and efforts to identify and arrest him continue. We still need to find this suspect. Anyone who recognises the suspect who managed to get away has been asked to call 101, quoting 20/130026/26.
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