A suspected drug dealer attempted to escape police by hiding on the island in the middle of the Queen’s Park Pond in what has been described as a “duck pond stand off”.
Police were called just before 5.30pm last Monday (September 14) to a group of men and women acting suspiciously near public toilets in Queens Park, Brighton.
As officers approached, one man ran off, throwing aside a bag later found to contain Class A drugs, before making for an island in the middle of the water.
Shouted warnings that a police dog would be sent after him persuaded the suspect to return.
One of the officers who attended, PC Jimmy Conway, later tweeted:
After a (wet) foot pursuit ending in a standoff @ the duck pond #QueensPark, #Brighton #CRT have 1 in for PWI Class A pic.twitter.com/bFZPUQy3Vu
— PC Jimmy Conway (@PCJimmyConway) September 14, 2015
And he added: “The suspect decided to run across the pond to the small island, which was quickly surrounded. Not the smartest of moves. I can confirm – no ducks harmed!”
Police said later that a 19-year-old man from Harrow-on-the-Hill in north-west London had been arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin.
After questioning he was released on bail until Wednesday, 4 November, pending further enquiries.
Queen’s Park has been plagued by drug-related antisocial activity over the summer, with both uniformed and plain-clothed police patrols increased in a bid to stop dealers and addicts using the playground.
