PC killed while investigating ‘burglary’ died of multiple injuries
Written by News on 17/08/2019
PC Andrew Harper died of multiple injuries and the 10 people being held over his death were arrested at a caravan park, police have said.
PC Harper, 28, was dragged along the road by a vehicle after responding to reports of a burglary in the Berkshire village of Sulhamstead at about 11.30pm on Thursday.
A post-mortem yesterday showed he died of multiple injuries.
Detective Superintendent Ailsa Kent, of Thames Valley Major Crime Unit, told reporters: “The cause of death is consistent with our current belief that Andrew was caught between a vehicle and the road and then dragged for a distance.”
Det Sup Kent said it remains unclear how PC Harper “came to be out of his vehicle and then caught under the suspect vehicle”.
She said: “What we do know is that Andrew and his crewmate were attending a reported burglary in Bradfield Southend.
“While responding, the officers located a vehicle that was suspected to be involved in the burglary, in Lambdens Hill.”
Ten boys and men aged between 13 and 30 were arrested shortly after the incident.
They were arrested at a council-run caravan and mobile home site near Bughfield Common, police said.
A court has granted permission for the group to be kept in custody for a further 36 hours while investigations continue.
PC Harper was a member of the Roads Policing Proactive Unit based at Abingdon police station.
He was also a newlywed, having married in Oxfordshire last month.
He and his wife Lissie were due to enjoy their honeymoon together next week.
Earlier on Saturday, PC Harper’s father Philip told Sky News that the family were “devastated”, adding: “we’re in a bad place”.
PC Harper had also been raising money for charity Children With Cancer UK, planning to compete in the 20-mile, 200 obstacle Dirty Weekend race in Peterborough in May next year.
He had hoped to raise £500 via his page on the Virgin Money Giving site but a surge in donations over the past few days has seen the total pass £8,000.
He had written that he had “never been much of a runner” but added: “Even if only one child benefits then it will be well and truly worth it.”
(c) Sky News 2019: PC killed while investigating ‘burglary’ died of multiple injuries
