Suspect threatens police with 2ft shard of glass
Police with dogs and a helicopter launched a big search for a suspected shoplifter who threatened officers with a two feet long shard of glass.
The drama started this afternoon when a member of the public thought he had seen a man stealing goods from Tesco Express in Hamstead Road, Great Barr around 12.50 pm.
The person alerted police on his mobile and two officers in the area responded almost immediately.
They saw the suspect walking down the road but before they could stop him he ducked into a side alley.
When the officers approached him there he was holding the large piece of glass and threatening to stab them if they came any closer.
The man then sprinted off and escaped across nearby railway lines forcing services to be halted for a short time, causing delays to four trains.
After crossing the track he disappeared in to woodland sparking the big hunt that at one time involved officers from at least seven police vehicles.
The force helicopter and dog teams were brought in to help with the search.
Those with information should call police on 101.
