Dramatic moment police pursue Audi hired by BBC Radio 1 grime star Saphan ‘Safone’ Robinson and linked to several shootings – before armed cops corner gunman passenger and find getaway driver hiding in a shed
- Officers in Birmingham set off in pursuit of an Audi A6 with Robinson inside
- Driver, Jonathon McCann, 25, accelerated away and led officers on a chase
- Robinson arrested with third man, Reiss Clarke, while McCann found in shed
This is the dramatic moment armed police swooped on a gunman after a weapon was thrown from a car window during a high-speed chase.
Officers in Birmingham set off in pursuit of an Audi A6 hired by and containing BBC Radio 1 grime star Saphan ‘Safone’ Robinson, 29, after the vehicle was linked to several shootings.
As officers tracked the car on Cambridge Street near the Rep theatre in the city centre at 4pm on September 19, 2019, the driver, Jonathon McCann, 25, accelerated away.
Robinson, McCann and a third man, Reiss Clarke, 26, led police through the busy city streets before winding down the window and throwing a handgun onto the pavement.
Officers in Birmingham set off in pursuit of an Audi A6 hired by and containing BBC Radio 1 grime star Saphan ‘Safone’ Robinson after the vehicle was linked to several shootings. It is seen here stopping beside the side of the road as the criminals leap out
The chase continued for another mile with the car mounting a central reservation and crossing a dual carriageway in a desperate bid to outrun police.
The suspects finally abandoned the car in Morville Street, in Ladywood, and fled on foot.
Robinson, who has been shot twice before, was arrested in parkland with Clarke after an officer threatened them with a Taser.
McCann, the driver, was found hiding in a garden shed nearby.
Examinations of the gun revealed it was a loaded revolver with four bullets in the chamber and had been previously fired.
Robinson, McCann and a third man, Reiss Clarke, 26, led police through the busy city streets before winding down the window and throwing a handgun onto the pavement. Robinson and Clarke were arrested in a park (left) and McCann in a nearby shed (right)
Clarke, of Bartley Green, admitted possession of the firearm and was jailed for eight years and two months. He is seen here being arrested
Clarke, of Bartley Green, admitted possession of the firearm and was jailed for eight years and two months.
McCann, of Northfield, admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for one year and banned from driving for 18 months.
Robinson was originally charged with possession of a firearm but he was later found to have no case to answer.
Robinson is regularly played on Radio 1 and he has performed at sell-out shows across the country
McCann, (left) admitted to dangerous driving, while Clarke, 26, (right) admitted possession of the firearm and was jailed for eight years and two months
He has admitted possessing an imitation firearm but has yet to be sentenced.
Detective Inspector Jim Church, from West Midlands Police CID, said: ‘This was great work by our officers who showed real determination to stop this car, knowing that those in it may be linked to gun crime.
‘The video shows their determination and professionalism in arresting the men, and as a result we’ve taken a gun off the streets and put a dangerous offender behind bars.’
Examinations of the gun revealed it was a loaded revolver with four bullets in the chamber and had been previously fired
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