Police officer knocked out in Chichester assault

The scene where the officer was assaulted. Picture by Eddie Mitchell

Police were called to Whyke Road at 10.20pm to a report of two men fighting.

Sussex Police said when officers arrived to Muchos Nachos where the men were believed to be they had run off. One was believed to have run onto the railway line.

As a result, the trains were stopped while officers worked with their British Transport Police colleagues to search for the suspect.

Trains were delayed during the search.

The man was found again in Whyke Road where he was captor sprayed.

Police said this had no effect. He ran off and was found by an officer in an industrial estate in Gravel Lane.

The man assaulted the officer, knocking him out.

He was then tasered by another officer but still managed to get away. The officer suffered a head injury and was taken to St Richard’s Hospital.

He was discharged this morning to recover at home.

The man was traced to an address in Bognor Road, Merston at 4.30am where firearms officer attended and negotiators were on scene for about three hours. The suspect was tasered again and arrested at 7.20am.

A 37-year-old man with no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of attempted GBH and affray.

A 41-year-old man, who had also been at the address in Bognor Road, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police. They both remain in custody.

Inspector Neal Harvey said: “There was a lot of police activity in Chichester last night and the trains had to be stopped while we were looking for the suspect. Thankfully my colleague who was injured has been released from hospital and is recovering well.

“Anyone who saw the fight in Whyke Road is asked to contact police on [email protected] quoting Operation Merrion.”

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