Police have recovered a firearm and a substantial quantity of drugs following an incident where a suspect was shot by armed officers in Whitefield, Manchester. The dramatic events unfolded on Bury New Road at around 3pm on Friday, May 23, when officers attempted to stop a vehicle.
Suspect Shot After Driving at Police
According to Greater Manchester Police, the driver failed to stop and drove directly at officers in an attempt to escape. In response, a firearms officer discharged their weapon, striking the suspect in the arm. The driver was taken to hospital, where he remained on Saturday with injuries described as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the suspect sustained a suspected broken elbow. The 20-year-old white British man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Overnight Searches Uncover Firearm and Drugs
GMP's investigation continued overnight, leading officers to search a property in Radcliffe. There, they discovered a firearm along with a significant quantity of both Class A and Class B drugs. No additional arrests have been made, and enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, from GMP's Serious Crime Division, said: "Our officers were met with an extremely dangerous situation on Bury New Road yesterday. Thankfully, no members of the wider public or officers were harmed in the incident. Despite this, our team has acted swiftly and professionally, and our investigation has progressed at pace. Overnight searches have led to the recovery of a firearm and a significant quantity of Class A and B drugs. This is a substantial find and it in turn prevents a potentially dangerous weapon and a significant amount of drugs from reaching our streets."
IOPC Investigation Underway
The IOPC is independently investigating the non-fatal police shooting. In a statement released on Saturday, the watchdog said: "We were made aware by Greater Manchester Police, who advised that a man was shot in the arm after a vehicle failed to stop for officers. He was taken to hospital with a suspected broken elbow. While firearms incidents like this are, thankfully, rare, it is important for there to be independent scrutiny to fully understand what has happened." IOPC investigators attended the scene and the police post-incident procedures to begin gathering evidence.
Detective Superintendent Harrop added: "Our investigation will progress, and we will continue to target those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe for all those who live and work across the whole of Greater Manchester."
