Police have provided an update on the condition of a man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting officers in Penge and subsequently taken to the hospital in a serious condition after claiming to have ingested drugs. Authorities now confirm that while the man remains in hospital, his condition is no longer considered life-threatening.
The incident unfolded at approximately 6:30 pm on Wednesday when police were called to Penge High Street following reports of a group of shoplifters in the area. Officers pursued one suspect on foot, arresting him on suspicion of assault on police. Shortly after being taken into custody, the man claimed to have ingested drugs, prompting officers to transport him to the hospital.
During the journey, two police officers in the vehicle began to feel unwell, leading them to stop on Hayes Lane. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) and London Ambulance Service (LAS) were called to the scene amid concerns that the officers might have been exposed to a chemical substance. Emergency services responded swiftly, with LAS dispatching an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer, and members of their Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
Three people were treated at the scene, with two officers taken to the hospital as a precaution. The third individual, the arrested man, was transported to the hospital separately. However, further investigation has confirmed that the incident is not being treated as a chemical exposure, and the situation has since been stood down.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said, “The man arrested remains in hospital. His condition is not life-threatening. Both officers went to the hospital as a precaution and have since been discharged.”
The situation is being closely monitored, and police continue to investigate the events leading up to the man’s arrest. No further details regarding the shoplifting incident or potential charges have been released at this time.
This is a developing story, and further updates will follow as more information becomes available.
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