Sgt Fryer proceeded to seize a lock knife from Diagne, who later admitted possession of a knife when he swiftly appeared before city magistrates on January 22. <\/a>Bodycam footage of Sgt Fryer’s chase and subsequent search resulted in a whopping 1.3 million views<\/a> on YouTube, giving him the local nickname of ‘fearless Rich.’<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>West Midland Police chief’s verdict on knife crime, begging and bin strikes as new operations lands<\/a><\/p>\n Sgt Fryer is part of West Midlands Police’s Operation Fearless team, a group formed of uniformed, plain clothed and cycling officers, rolled out to crack down on criminals travelling in to cause misery in Birmingham<\/a>.<\/p>\n The team launched in Erdington<\/a> in January, where crime cost the taxpayer an estimated \u00a37 million<\/a> and now attention has turned to Birmingham’s Southside district.<\/p>\n BirminghamLive met Sgt Fryer on patrol on Tuesday April 29 ahead of Operation Fearless’ on drug dealing, money laundering, violence and theft.<\/p>\n On January’s knife stop, Sgt Fryer recalled: “He was acting suspicious around Erdington<\/a> train station and failed to stop and comply with instructions.<\/p>\n “[I chased] him over a short distance with my push bike and he was found to have a lock knife.”<\/p>\n The video<\/a> shows how Sgt Fryer’s quick thinking tactics underneath the rail bridge resulted in him getting a knife off the streets.<\/p>\n Sgt Fryer says in the video: \u201cHello mate, how are you doing, are you all good? You going to stop for me?\u2019<\/p>\n Diagne then turns down Johnson Road and Sgt Fryer says: \u201cYeah, he\u2019s making off\u201d. He spots Diagne \u2018taking something out of his waistband.<\/p>\n Sgt Fryer calls for assistance from \u2018someone in a car\u2019 as they travel down Dean Road and shouts at the 22-year-old: \u201cStop where you are please. Stop where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n Sgt Fryer tells him he is being detained for a search, with a second officer taking items out of Diagne\u2019s pocket, one of which being a lock knife.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_JS367337655.jpg\")
West Midlands Police Operation Fearless begins around Birmingham city centre. Pictured: Sgt Richard Fryer outside New Street Station(Image: Birmingham Live)<\/p>\n![\"Mouhammad](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Erdington-knifeman-1.png\")
Mouhammad Diagne, 22, attempted to ride off from a police officer in Erdington but was chased down and stopped in Dean Road and found to be carrying a lock knife <\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_JS367337490.jpg\")
West Midlands Police Operation Fearless begins around Birmingham city centre. Chief Constable Craig Guildford (2nd from right) with colleagues(Image: Birmingham Live)<\/p>\n