Three arrested after car crashes into pub in Ongar
The occupants tried to swim across a river to escape police
Three people have been arrested, after a car failed to stop for police and collided with a pub.
Acting on information, officers began following the black Ford Fiesta on Saturday 4 January.
When it was signalled to stop in Ongar, it did not and continued towards Fyfield.
Officers continued to safely follow the vehicle and, as it entered the village on Queen Street, it collided with a pub.
There were no injuries to any members of the public in the area.
All of the occupants then left the vehicle. Two of them ran through the pub’s garden and jumped into a river and attempted to swim to the other side.
They were tracked by officers, with the help of Police Dog, Buddy.
One other suspect was quickly detained.
Stolen vehicle
Fast-paced enquiries identified that the vehicle had been stolen from Saffron Walden overnight on Thursday 2 January.
An 18-year-old man from Ongar was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, failing to stop, driving whilst disqualified. He was also found to wanted for two other serious offences.
A 17-year-old boy from Chelmsford was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.
A 17-year-old boy Harlow was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.
All three remain in custody.
If you steal cars from our public, you'll be caught
Chief Inspector Julia Finch, from the operational policing command, said: “Unfortunately, this is the second such incident in Essex this weekend and it is only thanks to the professionalism of the officers involved that this came to a conclusion without any injuries to the public.
“As a force, we’re working really hard to tackle groups of people we believe to be responsible for vehicle theft – and we don’t intend on stopping.
“To those who believe they can target people’s vehicles, which are paid for through hard-earned work, then the simple message is you cannot. You’ll be found and you’ll be arrested.”