Police chase latest: Arrests confirmed

Police have confirmed that two arrests were made in the prequel to the dramatic police chase that gripped Welshpool yesterday afternoon.

The arrests were made in Llanerfyl during a police operation that was supported by a helicopter and resulted in one of the suspects trying to flee down the river but being caught by a police dog.

On its way back to base, the police helicopter was passing over Welshpool at the same time that a foot chase was unfolding for suspected Tesco shoplifters. It provided aerial support and resulted in, we are told by an insider, three further arrests being made.

In the Llanerfyl incident, the two men arrested were aged 18 and 20 and not from the Powys area. It is thought the suspects were initially chased by car and then took off on foot.

Detective Inspector Diane Davies said: “We were alerted to an emerging trend of burglaries impacting on our rural communities. Supported through analytical research, we strategically deployed local resources who were supported by force assets including air support and dog units. Our resources were deployed in the right place at the right time resulting in the arrests.”

Police confirmed that one of the men entered the river trying to evade arrest but emerged only to be met by a police dog and his handler.

No official confirmation has come about the Welshpool arrests, but eye witnesses say two men were in handcuffs near the bus stop at the top of town late afternoon. One was already in custody.

The chase created a social media frenzy with residents recalling the last time such a police presence was in the town chasing bank robbers who had fled on foot after ditching their car at The Flash following a 2011 raid in Machynlleth.

PICTURE: Courtesy of reader Roman May.