Pitsea: Member of the public praised for helping detain suspected drink driver

Monday 26 June

We have charged two people after a member of the public and police officer were injured while detaining a suspected drink driver.

We received a call from a member of staff at a McDonald’s restaurant, in Pitsea, shortly before 2.40am this morning (Sunday 25 June), reporting a suspected drink driver.

In the incident which followed, a police officer and a staff member at the restaurant were injured.

Richie Jolly, 30, of Rubicon Avenue, Wickford, has been charged with common assault, assault by beating of an emergency worker, failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis and assault with intent to resist arrest.

Demi Viccary, 26, of Cranes Lane, Basildon, has been charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty and two counts of common assault of an emergency worker.

They are both due to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Sunday 25 June

A brave member of the public who was injured while helping to detain a suspected drink driver has been thanked by officers.

We received a call from a member of staff at a McDonald’s restaurant, in Pitsea, shortly before 2.40am this morning (Sunday 25 June), reporting a suspected drink driver.

A female officer was quickly on the scene and after speaking to the driver, attempted to arrest him.

The suspect resisted and during efforts to restrain him, he punched the officer to the face and launched kicks.

A member of McDonald’s staff was also assaulted while coming to the officer’s aid, suffering sprained fingers and a cracked tooth.

Our officer was left bruised, scratched and grazed, but turned down further medical treatment and remained on duty throughout the rest of the night.

A second suspect attempted to stop the officer from arresting the driver, before further units arrived to assist in detaining the pair.

A 30-year-old man, from Wickford, is being questioned on suspicion of drink driving and assaulting a police officer.

A 26-year-old woman, from Basildon, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and remains in custody.

'Our officers put themselves in harm's way every day'

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Bliss said:
“I want to offer my own personal gratitude to the member of the public who went above and beyond to assist our officer, sustaining injury to himself in the process.
"Without his intervention I have no doubt my officer would have been in a far worse situation.
“We will be writing to him personally to express our thanks.
“I would also thank staff for quickly alerting us to this incident – we rely on intelligence received from the public to keep dangerous drink and drug drivers off our streets.
“I would like to commend our officer for her response to this incident, and her fortitude in detaining both suspects.
“This incident exemplifies the challenges our officers face on a daily basis dealing with even the most seemingly routine of incidents.
“Our officers work day-in-day out to keep the public safe. They never deserve to be subjected to violence for doing their jobs.”

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