Five more people have been arrested and a second man charged as part of a major investigation into the events leading up to a horror crash on the A66.
It brings the total number of arrests to 17 in connection with the crash, which claimed seven lives, including those of two police officers - PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38.
The crash also killed five people - Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18 - in a Volkswagen Passat going the wrong way up the A-road at 3.39am on Saturday (August 22).
PC Matthew Blades
(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
PC Tom Clough
(Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
Cleveland Police said on Tuesday (August 25) that five further people have been arrested.
They are a boy aged 16, an 18-year-old and a man of 21, all on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group; a 55-year-old on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 23-year-old on suspicion of making threats to kill.
All five remain in police custody.
Two of the seventeen arrested have since been charged.
Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (August 25) morning.
Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close in Redcar, was also previously charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs, and possession of criminal property. He was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21, charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property.
Police have previously said that the five young men in the Passat may have had links to “serious and organised criminal activity”.
All but Cahill had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another car, a Volvo XC60, which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
The Volvo, which, like the VW, was said to be using cloned plates, was later traced and recovered in Middlesbrough.
Inquests into the deaths of PC Blades and PC Clough are listed to be opened at Teesside Coroner’s Court at 10am on Thursday (August 27). An opening hearing for Theo Rae is also scheduled at the same venue at 2.05pm.
Scene of the crash on Saturday
(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
The five arrests add to the 12 made yesterday. They are:
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A 24-year-old man been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and has been released on conditional bail
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Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Close, Redcar was previously arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and released on conditional bail for this offence. He has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday 25 August)
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A 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been released on conditional bail
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A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon and has been released on conditional bail
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A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage and has been released on conditional bail. He has been remanded on recall to prison
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A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public order and is in police custody
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A 61-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate and has been released on conditional bail
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A 47-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail
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A 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on unconditional bail
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A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of class C drugs and has been released on conditional bail
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Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close in Redcar, has been charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property. He has been remanded in custody until 21 September where he is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court
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A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill and has been released on conditional bail.