Man Charged After Crashing into Two Police Cars
Two officers injured in collision on North End Road
There were no police officers in the car which overturned. Picture: Twitter
April 17, 2023
A 47-year-old man from Crouch Hill has appeared in court after being involved in a collision with two police cars in Fulham on Saturday (8 April).
At around 5:10p,m Tanacha Weekes was requested to stop on North End Road by two officers on foot from the Fulham Safer Neighbourhood team, PS Martis-Jones and PC Bracegirdle. The Met says that he was wanted in connection with an investigation into an attempted murder and recall to prison.
The driver ignored the request and moved away and mounted the pavement with the two officers striking the vehicle with their batons.
An officer from Hammersmith Response Team had parked their police car to block it in. The suspect rammed the empty police vehicle, pushing it down the road where it eventually overturned near the Co-op.
The car then turned into a dead-end street with the officers chasing on foot still hitting the vehicle and, when attempting to exit, it drove head on into a second police car that had arrived from Merton Traffic Garage to assist, hit resulting in injuries for two officers inside. They were taken to hospital, but their injuries were later assessed to be minor and they are believed to already be back on duty.
The two local officers on foot then detained and arrested the driver, for the offences he was wanted already wanted for plus multiple serious traffic offences and the attempted murder of police officers due to his driving.
Both police cars were written off because of the collision.
PSCO Ivan Goncharov said, “This is also a reminder, to you as our residents, that we will stop at nothing to rid our streets of dangerous criminals here in Fulham. This incident was a direct result of proactive policing - when we are not responding to calls we are out patrolling and looking for those intent on causing harm. Our officers continue to work alongside central teams to deal with such criminality as part of a joint-action, and we have fantastic working relationships with our response and traffic teams, as well as partners from LBHF.”
He added that while protecting the crime scene, some of the officers were subjected to verbal abuse from passers-by who thanked the suspect for driving into the police cars despite one of the officers bleeding nearby and being treated for his injuries.
PSCO Goncharov commented, “Whilst we know this isn’t the view of the majority of residents in our area, we can only police effectively with the support of the public, and continue to ask you for your help in achieving this.”
Commander Kyle Gordon, said, “Our officers come to work each day to tackle criminality and protect Londoners. This afternoon two officers were injured by a man who appears to have been willing to do whatever he could to escape.
“This incident is a reminder of the risks that are taken on a daily basis, and it is only by luck that these officers were not seriously hurt.”
Mr Weekes was charged late on Sunday, 9 April with two counts of assault on an emergency worker, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm (on a police officer) and dangerous driving. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 10 April and has been returned to prison.
Police are asking for anyone whose vehicle may have been damaged during the incident, or if they were a witness to the suspect driving to contact Hammersmith and Fulham police quoting CAD5041/08APR23.
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