FOLLOWING a police manhunt in broad daylight last Friday a 40-year-old Melksham man has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop and driving dangerously.

Tri-force officers responded to a call at 3.25pm that a Toyota Celica had sped off when asked to stop in Horton Road, Devizes evading police capture.

The car, said to contain three occupants, was found 15 minutes later abandoned on a driveway in Hopgood Close, where the three suspects were reported to have made off from the vehicle through the rear garden of a property.

After an extensive search from Tri-force officers, from the Dog Unit, Traffic and Firearms, the man was discovered in London Road, near Travelodge and arrested.

Dog handler PC Phil Thom, 53, and his four-year-old German Shepherd Billie attended the scene, with the dog tracking down a number of items believed to have belonged to the suspects.

Officer of 26 years, PC Thom, said: “It was pure luck that the Tri-force squad was still there. We are based in Devizes and just as we were about to leave we got the call about the incident.

“The incident occurred around about school leaving time so not exactly the best time to track them down.

“We found the car abandoned on a driveway and that they had taken off through some gardens so we followed them and found several items of clothing.

“The suspect was caught by a local Devizes officer in London Road.”

Billie has been with Tri-force for two and half years and has this year been involved in ten arrests.

“I think he is a good dog but if you ask any dog handler he will say the same thing, you cannot be a handler and think your dog is not the best," added PC Thom.

“I have worked with nine dogs now in total and Billie really does have a great tracking nose.”

The items found were seized and the man was arrested and taken to Melksham custody. He has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Anyone who witnessed the vehicle being driven in the area of Horton Road at approximately 3.30pm on Friday May 13 should call police on 101.