Off-Duty Cop Detains Armed Suspect After Crash on A339
Last September, PC Jones was on her way home when she spotted a crash on the A339 near Kingsclere. No emergency services had arrived, so she stopped to help.
Suspect Reaches for Weapon, PC Jones Acts Fast
A nearby witness told her there was a man trapped inside the wrecked car. When PC Jones approached, the man suddenly reached for a metal hand tool from his bag. Without any protective gear or police equipment, she swiftly grabbed and detained him.
PC Jones held the suspect until marked police units arrived to take over and make the arrest.
Suspect Fined and Banned from Driving
It later emerged the man was disqualified from driving and was fined.
PC Jones Praised for Bravery
“It was unexpected to come across that scene because I’d just driven round the corner,” PC Jones said. “When you’re in that kind of situation, you don’t really think, you just do. It’s only afterwards that I thought, ‘Oh, should I have done that on my own?’ Receiving this is nice, though I didn’t expect it. But it’s good to feel recognised for what you do.”
Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoë Wakefield added: “Despite being off-duty, PC Jones showed a real commitment to the public that night to detain this armed man until colleagues arrived on the scene. I commend her for her courage and quick thinking.”
