Weekend Arrests Made by Matrix Team
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It was anything but a quiet start to the weekend for the Matrix team, as officers attended a report of a one-vehicle collision near Tees Barrage in Stockton around 11:30pm on Friday 1st March.
The vehicle was found abandoned with ten bottles of nitrous oxide outside the doors of the Volkswagen Golf.
A further search of the vehicle located identification in various names, around £14,000 in cash and nine bottles of suspected temazepam tablets which were all seized by police.
Two men were quickly identified and a 33-year-old man and a 37-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property, possession with intent to supply class C drugs and fraud. Both have been bailed whilst enquiries continue.
On Sunday 3rd March, Matrix team officers were patrolling with neighbourhood officers in the area of Flatts Lane Visitor Centre, where they spotted two 4x4 vehicles which made off. One of the vehicles became bogged down and the males ran off.
A search took plate utilising the police drone and three males were located, one being in possession of a crossbow and another in possession of a knuckle duster and suspected drugs.
A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and he has been bailed whilst enquiries continue.
To other men aged 19 and 24 were arrested but later released with no further action.
Chief Inspector Darren Bainbridge said: “The Matrix team have continuously been working hard to disrupt criminal activity and arrest suspected offenders. I hope this weekend’s activity demonstrates that we will not stand by and let criminals cause havoc on our streets, and are determined to make the force area a hostile environment for those who are intent on causing harm to our communities.
“We will relentlessly pursue those seeking to benefit from crime and we would encourage anyone with information regarding criminal or suspicious activity to come forward and let us know by calling 101.”
Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111.
