Gun and drugs found after suspect shot by armed police in Whitefield
Officers discovered a firearm and a "significant" quantity of Class A and B drugs at a Radcliffe address overnight, after a 20-year-old man was shot on Bury New Road when he allegedly drove directly at police.
A gun and drugs have been found by detectives after a suspect was shot by armed police in Whitefield.
Officers tried to stop a car on Bury New Road at around 3pm on Friday (May 23). Greater Manchester Police said the driver "failed to stop and drove directly at officers to get away."
A shot was fired by a GMP firearms officer. The driver, a 20-year-old man, was taken to hospital with an injury to his arm. The IOPC said the suspect suffered a suspected broken elbow. The injury was described as "neither life-threatening nor life-changing."
He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
What did the overnight search find?
Officers searched an address in Radcliffe overnight and found a firearm and a "significant" quantity of both Class A and Class B drugs. No further arrests have been made.
What have police said?
Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, from GMP's Serious Crime Division, said: "Our officers were met with an extremely dangerous situation on Bury New Road yesterday."
He added: "Overnight searches have led to the recovery of a firearm and a significant quantity of Class A and B drugs. This is a substantial find and it in turn prevents a potentially dangerous weapon and a significant amount of drugs from reaching our streets."
He said: "Our investigation will progress, and we will continue to target those involved in serious and organised crime to keep our communities safe."
What is the IOPC doing?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an independent investigation into the shooting. In a statement, the IOPC said: "We were made aware by Greater Manchester Police, who advised that a man was shot in the arm after a vehicle failed to stop for officers."
The watchdog added: "While firearms incidents like this are, thankfully, rare, it is important for there to be independent scrutiny to fully understand what has happened."
IOPC investigators attended the scene and the police post-incident procedures to begin gathering evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where did the police shooting take place?
- The incident occurred on Bury New Road in Whitefield at around 3pm on Friday, May 23, when armed officers attempted to stop a vehicle.
- What injuries did the suspect sustain?
- The 20-year-old man was shot in the arm. The IOPC reported that he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken elbow, which is not considered life-threatening.
- What did police find during the subsequent search?
- During an overnight search of a property in Radcliffe, officers recovered a firearm and a significant quantity of Class A and Class B drugs.