An 18-year-old man who escaped from a police van in Kings Heath was recaptured hiding in a camper van at Dawberry Fields Park, following a major manhunt that involved a police helicopter.
Arrest and Escape
West Midlands Police officers attended an address on Waldrons Moor in Kings Heath on Monday morning to arrest a 16-year-old boy wanted on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. During a search of the property, police found the 18-year-old man hiding in a wardrobe.
As officers attempted to detain him, the man fled the scene, sparking a large-scale search operation. The National Policing Air Service (NPAS) was scrambled to assist in locating the fugitive.
Recapture in Camper Van
Police flooded Dawberry Fields Park, where the man was eventually found hiding inside a parked camper van. He was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and escape from lawful custody.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Earlier this morning, we arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary from an address on Waldrons Moor, Birmingham. During a search of the address, we also found a wanted man hiding in a wardrobe. Whilst officers were detaining him, the man fled the scene. With the support of NPAS, officers located the man hiding in a parked camper van. The 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and escape from lawful custody."
Both in Custody
Both the 16-year-old and the 18-year-old remain in police custody for questioning. The incident caused significant disruption in the Kings Heath area, with a heavy police presence and the helicopter drawing attention from residents.
