Police Constable Under Investigation After Fatal Collision With Pedestrian
A deadly crash involving a Sussex Police vehicle and a 27-year-old man has sparked a serious criminal probe. Arthur Holscher-Ermert was struck on foot by an unmarked police car on the A259 South Coast Road at around 11.10pm on Saturday, April 30. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.
Officer Faces Criminal and Misconduct Investigations
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a criminal investigation into the police constable driving the vehicle involved. The officer is being investigated for causing death by dangerous driving. However, the IOPC stresses this does not guarantee charges will be filed. They will decide whether to pass the case to the Crown Prosecution Service after the investigation.
In addition, the officer faces a separate investigation for potential gross misconduct.
What Happened Before the Tragic Collision?
According to the IOPC, before the incident, Holscher-Ermert was driving an Audi that police were pursuing. The chase began during an operation targeting the Newhaven and Peacehaven areas. The pursuit ended in Bramber Avenue, where Holscher-Ermert abandoned the vehicle. Moments later, he was struck by a different police vehicle.
Investigation Ongoing: Community Urged to Help
“Our thoughts are with Mr Holscher-Ermert’s family,” said IOPC Regional Director Graham Beesley. “We are also examining the police actions before and after the collision, including whether handcuffs were applied and the aftercare provided. We want to establish why Mr Holscher-Ermert was being pursued and if police procedures were followed.”
Investigators have reviewed dashcam footage from witnesses, the police car involved, and body-worn videos from officers at the scene. They are also canvassing the area for CCTV and conducting house-to-house inquiries to find more witnesses.
The IOPC appeals to anyone with information or mobile footage relevant to the case to come forward. Contact them at 0300 3035612 or email [email protected].
A post mortem on Mr Holscher-Ermert was underway as of Thursday, May 5.
