An off-duty police officer suffering from ill health allegedly stole a cop car which crashed at Winsford police HQ where he was arrested.
The Chronicle understands the 39-year-old is PC Kevin Szabo who was at the centre of a six-hour stand-off in Prestatyn on Monday.
PC Szabo, who lives in the resort town of Prestatyn but serves with Cheshire police, was involved in a 'disturbance' in which he barricaded himself into a house.
This morning the officer, normally based at Ellesmere Port station, allegedly took a patrol car without permission which crashed at Winsford police HQ after hitting a gate. PC Szabo was arrested and taken in for questioning.
Cheshire’s Deputy Chief Constable Helen King said: “Since September the Constabulary has been supporting an officer from the Ellesmere Port area who has been absent through ill health.
“On Monday the Cheshire Constabulary supported North Wales Police to resolve an incident at the officer’s address in Prestatyn.
“Today the officer was able to take possession of a police car and drive it to the Force Headquarters at Winsford where he was arrested. The incident was professionally managed to ensure that the public and members of staff were not put at risk. Nobody suffered any injuries, although minor damage was caused to the police car. The investigation is ongoing.
“The Constabulary provides extensive help and support to officers and staff through line managers, the Occpational Health Unit, help lines, the Police Federation and Unison, recognising the demanding and stressful nature of police work. The support available, together with the security of police premises and property, are being reviewed as a result of today’s incident."
Five police cars and two riot vans attended Monday’s incident in Prestatyn and a cordon was put up around both ends of Trevor Road.
The drama only ended after specialist negotiators managed to convince the officer to leave the property. He was then driven away by a relative.
A spokesman for North Wales Police said that 'no further action' would be taken in relation to Monday’s stand-off because no criminal offence had taken place.
