Drug dealer who mowed down two Walsall police officers while escaping arrest is convicted thanks to bodycam footage
A drug dealer who injured two Walsall police officers by running them over during a high speed escape has been convicted after a jury saw bodycam footage of the incident.
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After being found slumped behind the wheel on the morning of February 24, a blurry-eyed and slurring Saqib Ali turned a routine police stop into carnage from which one of his victims is still recovering.
PC Bull and PC Kidd spotted Ali's Vauxhall Astra in Reservoir Place and after knocking his window the drug dealer put his foot down and reversed, ramming PC Bull so the stricken police officer was pinned between his car and a police van.
PC Kidd desperately tried to wrestle control of the car from Ali, who was tasered before successfully escaping by dangerously driving out of Reservoir Place and onto Darlaston Road.
Ali, of Mere Road, Erdington, then went on the run for 24 hours before being arrested in Oldbury with class A drugs.
Both police officers were taken to hospital after the incident. PC Bull suffered tissue damage and bruising while PC Kidd had sustained serious leg injuries requiring surgery and rehabilitation.
Ali was arrested on Nelson Street in Oldbury the following day while he was seated in a Volkswagen Passat alongside another man. He was searched and a plastic carrier bag containing suspected class A drugs was found on him. Tests revealed the drugs to be crack cocaine.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "One of our Walsall officers sustained serious leg injuries and is still recovering following the incident which took place on the morning of February 24 last year. Another officer was also left with injuries after Saqib Ali deliberately drove at them."
Bodycam footage from the officers played a crucial part in the trial and showed Ali's reckless bid to escape arrest.
Ali, aged 29, was found guilty of wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court which concluded this week. Ali had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply.
He will be sentenced in six weeks' time.
Detective Sergeant Phil Hinton, from West Midlands Police's Major Crime Unit, said: “This was a very distressing incident for all officers involved with two officers left injured. Bodycam footage captured the shocking incident but it also proved to be vital as a crucial part of the evidence in this case.
“Ali was quickly apprehended, brought before the court and now faces years behind bars following his conviction.”
