Man wanted on suspicion of rape among five arrested in police stops

Man wanted on suspicion of rape among five arrested in police stops | Teesside Live

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Five people have been arrested during four police stops in the opening 30 hours of 2026

Matrix officers have made five arrests

The five arrests made my Matrix officers already in 2026:

• It’s been a busy start to 2026 for Cleveland Police’s Matrix team as officers make a string of arrests. One wanted man was arrested on suspicion of rape while a suspected danger driver was stopped before heading onto the A19 travelling in the wrong direction.
• At 3.30pm on New Year’s Day patrolling officers spotted a suspected stolen vehicle on the A1185 Seal Sands Road, near to Port Clarence and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver made off from police before crashing into a parked Polestar, then attempting to flee on foot, along with his passenger, towards Cowpen Bewley. Officers chased them and two men aged 28 and 20 were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. Both were taken to police custody for questioning.
• Hours later, at 9.40pm, officers spotted a man wanted by police in a car on Yarm Road in Stockton. Officers stopped the vehicle, and the 52-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of rape. He was taken to police custody for questioning.
• Shortly after midnight, into the morning of Friday January 2, officers attempted to stop a black Mercedes c220 on Stadium Gardens in Middlesbrough. The vehicle made off from police and was pursued by Matrix officers. The car was then stopped near to the A66 where the driver and the passenger in the car attempted to flee from the officers on foot. Officers chased them and the passenger, an 18-year-old man, was caught and arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs. He was taken to police custody for questioning. Enquiries are continuing to trace the driver of the vehicle.
• At 2.40am, officers spotted a silver BMW series 1 driving at speed and on the wrong side of the road on Wolviston Road in Stockton. The vehicle was stopped in a tactical, controlled stop on the A689 following a police pursuit, just before the driver was about to head onto the A19 driving in the wrong direction, says Cleveland Police. The 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and driving whilst under the influence of cocaine. He was taken to police custody for questioning.

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