U.K. officer commandeers bike to chase down drug dealer

A quick-thinking U.K. police officer and a helpful member of the public teamed up to take down a drug dealer in Northampton on Aug. 23, 2023.

At about 11:45 a.m., a member of the public in Northampton town centre called the Northamptonshire Police Department to report a possible drug deal taking place near Commercial Street.

The suspect involved was Sean Christopher Prosser, 28, and when officers arrived, he made off on a bicycle, police said.

However, the department said response officer PC Lewis Marks was one step ahead of him by driving his police vehicle to Beckets Park where he believed Prosser may be heading.

Police said Marks’ hunch turned out to be correct because as he turned the car from Victoria Promenade into Beckets Park, a member of the public pointed him in the direction of Prosser who was cycling across the park towards Bedford Road.

Knowing that his vehicle couldn’t enter the park and that he’d be unable to catch Prosser on foot, police said Marks asked another member of the public whether he could borrow his bike, using it to cycle across the grass and intercepting the drug dealer opposite St. John’s car park where he was tackled to the ground. The Northamptonshire Police Department released video showing the pursuit and capture.

“This incident was an example of good old fashioned policing where our officers and members of the public worked together to take down a man whose actions were a blight on the community,” Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Beth Warren said.

Following a search, Prosser was found to be in possession of a large quantity of cash and phones with messages related to drugs supply on them, according to police. A CT scan the next day also identified a plugged kinder egg toy case which contained wraps of heroin and crack cocaine.

“The quick-thinking of PC Marks ensured Prosser was arrested swiftly and I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank the member of the public who let us borrow his bike,” Warren said.

Prosser was charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, escaping from lawful custody, acquiring/using/possessing criminal property, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, and being concerned in the supply of heroin, police said.

Prosser pleaded guilty to the offenses at Northampton Crown Court at the beginning of October and returned to the same court on Dec. 1, 2023, where he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.

“Tackling drug harm is a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police and I hope this case demonstrates how quickly we act on community intelligence in order to make our town a nicer place to live,” Warren said.