Chaos erupted in Greengates after an online child abuse suspect’s arrest, leading to violence and police injuries.
Police were called around 9:17 PM by a group that reported seeking the man. This group focuses on online child safety and operates a large Facebook page. They called the police after going to Asda on New Line, aiming to find the suspect after first visiting his house.
The child safety group detained the suspect. They claim they called police again, feeling the police took too long to arrive. The group said the area was initially empty but people started gathering from Asda and the cashpoint, respecting the group’s space and staying away from the suspect.
Later, the situation turned violent when three officers arrived on the scene and tried to put the suspect in their car. The officers needed backup, and more police units arrived, resulting in three officers receiving minor injuries.
The child safety group doesn’t condone violence and saved footage for the police to help with the assault probe. They think police were slow, making their travel avoidable, and believe the suspect could have been arrested sooner since the group alerted police weeks ago.
The group disagrees with the disorder and rejects the violence, stating arrests shouldn’t take so long. They said the team ensured order and stopped the suspect from escaping while also protecting him from the crowd. They will provide names to police and share footage of any offenses, to aid the police investigation of the night’s events.
Police said Jayden Peel, 18, faces charges of assaulting officers and resisting arrest. Peel received bail and must appear in court March 14. Police also arrested a 27-year-old man who is suspected of online child abuse.