Seven more people have been arrested in connection with alleged organised criminal activity following the fatal A66 crash that killed seven people, including two police officers. Cleveland Police confirmed on Friday evening (August 28) that the latest detentions bring the total number of arrests since the incident to 24.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning when an armed response vehicle carrying PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, collided head-on with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 at South Bank. Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17, also died in the collision. Police subsequently confirmed they were investigating “serious organised criminal activity” linked to the Passat.
Latest arrests and charges
Officers have detained four men, aged 35, 25, 40, and 21, on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life. This follows reports of a car crashing into a property on Steele Crescent, Middlesbrough. The same four men are also being questioned in connection with an alleged arson attack after a caravan was set ablaze on Atlee Road on Wednesday morning, as well as a drug offence.
Cleveland Police confirmed the men were travelling in a vehicle that was stopped by officers on Kingsley Road in Grangetown on Thursday, with a quantity of class A drugs subsequently seized.
Three other men were also arrested: a 23-year-old 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.
Investigation and police response
Earlier on Friday, detectives confirmed they are not linking a house fire which killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt to the A66 crash. Hundreds of additional police officers have been deployed to bolster forces following a series of recent incidents in 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.”
Fox added: “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.”
