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POLICE OFFICER BEATEN UP BY 70 YOBS

Tim Quiterio: Target

Saturday May 31,2008

By Hollie Merrick

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(18)

A SCREAMING mob of 70 teenagers beat a police officer to the ground in a “feeding frenzy” of violence after he was called to a fight in a park.

Tim Quiterio, a 26-year Police Community Support Officer, was ambushed by the gang, then pushed, kicked and pelted with bottles.

He was one of two PCSOs responding to a call from a member of the public about a gang fight in Radford Park, in the Plymstock area of Plymouth, Devon.

Police officers who arrived as back-up were forced to use incapacitating spray and batons on the gang.

Yesterday Detective Sergeant Matt Lawrence, who is leading an investigation into the attack on May 9, said: “The gang members were like sharks. They kept coming back to have a go.”

Older people were also involved in the brawl, he said. A total of nine people have been arrested and he warned that a further 17 are facing arrest unless they voluntarily come forward.

PCSO Quiterio, who joined the force 18 months ago, escaped with grazes and bruises and was able to return to work the next day.

He said: “I was right in the middle trying to calm the situation down when it erupted around me. I was completely surrounded.

“People kept joining in – it was like a feeding frenzy and quickly got way out of control. I was pushed to the floor, kicked and had bottles thrown at me. We were also subjected to continuous verbal abuse.

“We’re not armed, all we have is our defence skills which allow us to block and push people away.”

His female colleague, PCSO Po Yung, 31, said: “It was frightening. Anything could have happened in those few minutes. We were lucky.”

DS Lawrence said: “The PCSO was doing his best to divide the young people when he was knocked down. Luckily he was wearing his stab vest, which took the brunt of the blows.”

He said a group of 15-year-olds had gathered to celebrate the end of school when they were joined by older people. There may also have been a confrontation between gang members a few weeks earlier.

Officers seized alcohol from some youths.

The nine arrested are aged from 15 to 46 and have been released on bail to return to Charles Cross police station on August 11 and 13.

It was like a feeding frenzy and quickly got way out of control

Tim Quiterio

NALIN

01.06.08, 11:52am

The government were elected to protect our interests they have not fulfilled that job we have been let down, wouldn't it be a better idea to get rid of the government then the police can do the job for which they are trained without PC and red tape to hinder them.
Who, in a white man's country refused to recruit white police officers in favour of ethnic minorities ,who do not want the job or else they would have applied ,just when the public was crying out for more officers on the beat,and you are telling the police officers to get another job.
There are others who should be looking for another job not the bobbies

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

TOTALLY APPALLING!

31.05.08, 9:07pm

What can I say but total dismay at the ripping apart of this country on the verge of anarchy.....don't support any kind of violence against anyone!

• Posted by: RealIstic08 • Report Comment

IS THIS ROBO COP..

31.05.08, 8:51pm

He escaped with grazes and bruises and was able to return to work the next day.??after being beaten up by 70 yobs.?????

• Posted by: Major • Report Comment

POLICE OFFICER BEATEN UP BY

31.05.08, 7:55pm

70 yobs? 70 yobs? How can one person be beaten by 70 others and live to tell the tale.

• Posted by: yokosmile • Report Comment

ARM THE POLICE.

31.05.08, 6:33pm

All fully-trained police officers should be armed. Now.
We cant keep on with PC Plod any longer.
Merry England is now more like the Bronx.
Lets get real.

• Posted by: stevewo • Report Comment

GORDON BROWN PLUS DAVID CAMERON ARE FROM THE SAME MOLD.

31.05.08, 4:20pm

Lawless Britain,its been getting worse for decades regardless of who was or is in power now. I have sent several letters to Gordon Brown with ref: to yob culture and the same letters to David Cameron, Gordon Browns PATHETIC reply comes from another member of staff (not him). And David Cameron doesnt answer at all. When issuse like yobs,stabbings,shooting etc come up they BOTH hide under the same table.

• Posted by: egore • Report Comment