Two crashes, three arrests and Class A drugs seized in Stafford drama
Cash, drugs and a gun were found, three people were arrested and the same car was involved in two crashes during a dramatic afternoon in Stafford.
Two of the arrested men were detained when the firearm, cash and Class A drugs were found inside their Volvo after it collided with a police car on Wednesday afternoon.
That crash happened less than a mile away from where the Volvo was involved in a crash which saw a Hyundai hit a wall around 25 minutes earlier.
The third man was found on a road around the same distance away from both crash scenes and was arrested after being treated in hospital.
All three of the suspects are from Brighton.
Interactive map of the dramatic afternoon:
The drama started when the Volvo was involved in a crash with the Hyundai on Burton Bank Lane, near its junction with the A449 Moss Pit, at around 5.15pm.
The Hyundai went through a wall and ended up in a hedge with its boot open, while the Volvo left the scene.
It is not yet clear whether the Hyundai was being driven by an innocent third party or is suspected of being involved in criminal activity.
Unmarked police cars
Liam Atkins, who photographed the crash scene, explained: "I heard a bang and then I saw two unmarked police cars go past.
"I do photography so I shot up and took my camera. The car and the police just went past the car.
"I followed down them down the road and about three quarters of a mile down, there was an ambulance that had pulled up.
"There was a man in his either late 50s or early 60s.
"He had no top on and had cuts to his head and face."
That man was found on Uplands Road, at the other end of Burton Bank Lane, taken to hospital in Stoke and then arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.
Meanwhile the Volvo was involved in a crash with a police car on Hyde Lea Bank and the gun, cash and drugs were found inside.
Two men who were inside the Volvo when the second crash happened, aged 33 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of drug, driving and kidnap offences.
Staffordshire Police were unable to confirm whether the alleged kidnap victim was from Stafford or involved in either of the crashes.
All three men remained in custody on Thursday afternoon.
Police statement
Staffordshire Police spokeswoman Hazel Dockery said: "Police in Stafford have arrested three men and recovered a firearm, along with drugs and cash from a vehicle, following a collision in the town yesterday.
"A Volvo car collided with a police vehicle in Hyde Lea Bank, Stafford around 5.40pm.
"Officers seized Class A drugs and cash and two men aged 33 and 35, both from Brighton, were arrested from the vehicle on suspicion of drug, driving and kidnap offences.
"Officers had earlier been called to a collision between a Volvo and a Hyundai in Burton Bank Lane, Stafford at around 5.15pm, after which the Volvo had left the scene.
"A 54-year-old man, also from Brighton, was found later on Uplands Road with injuries to his face.
"He was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for treatment and was later arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
"All three are currently in custody helping with enquiries."
