River Hull: Three more arrests, one man still missing

ARRESTS: Police have made three further arrests as part of their ongoing investigation

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

One of the two men who entered the River Hull on Friday night while trying to evade police has been arrested, although the second man is still missing.

The pair entered the river during rough weather conditions at about 8.30pm while fleeing police after crashing the Hyundai car they were travelling in into a wall in Charlotte Street. It had failed to stop for uniformed officers on patrol five minutes earlier after it was seen to have a defective rear light.

Humberside Police have now pieced together the movements of one of the two men, who somehow crossed the river during an active search, exiting the water near Great Union Street at about 10.12pm.

He crossed North Bridge and made his way onto Freetown Way at about 10.25pm, and was picked up the driver of a white Porsche near Wilberforce Drive and George Street at around 10.25pm.

The man who had crossed the river, aged 25, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

In an incident update, Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Cross said: “Over the last six days, multiple lines of enquiry have been carried out as part of this protracted investigation.

“Our initial enquiries traced the original vehicle that failed to stop, a Hyundai, to an address on Jesmond Gardens [off Holderness Road] earlier on the Friday. Upon forcing entry into the address, a suspected cannabis grow was discovered.

“Further enquiries identified another vehicle, a Mercedes, at the same address also on Friday 5, December.

“Work was undertaken to trace the Mercedes, and it was stopped in Hull City Centre on Tuesday evening, with two men, 25 and 23-years-old, arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. The 25-year-old man was also further arrested on suspicion of driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

ESCAPE ROUTE: A man who crossed the River Hull while on the run from police came back across North Bridge before being picked up by the driver of a Porsche

“From CCTV footage enquiries, we also have been able to piece together and trace the movements of the man who exited the River Hull near to Great Union Street, onto North Bridge and then onto Freetown Way at around 10.15pm.

“The man is then picked up by a driver in a white Porsche near Wilberforce Drive and George Street at around 10.25pm.

“This car has now also been traced and last night, Wednesday, 10 December, a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.

“Following these enquiries, the 25-year-old man arrested on Tuesday, has now been identified as the man who exited the River Hull after the fail to stop.

“The 25-year-old man and 34-year-old man remain in police custody at this time, and the 23-year-old man has been released on conditional bail pending further investigation.

“Searches remain ongoing for the second man who entered the water following the fail to stop as he has not yet been accounted for, with our specialist Underwater Search Team and our partners including the coastguard and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, involved in trying to find him.

“A fourth man, 65-years-old, who was also arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice during the early stages of our investigation, remains on police bail at this time.”

He added: “This is an extremely complex investigation, and enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances and ascertain the exact timeline of events. We would continue to urge anyone who recognises the description of events, has any further CCTV footage or information, no matter how small, to contact us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting log 461 of 5 December.”

Information can also be provided anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.