Witnesses and dash cam appeal after Jeep drove the wrong way on the A14 – Bury St Edmunds

Police are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage following an incident where a Jeep was driven the wrong way on the A14 near Bury St Edmunds.

It followed an incident of suspected hare coursing on private land in Westhorpe, Stowmarket, on Friday 13 February.

Police were first called by a member of public at approximately 12:30pm and officers attended the area, at which point a further call was made to police reporting that the suspects had left in a blue Jeep.

Enquiries confirmed the vehicle was travelling via back roads and it was later sighted joining the westbound A14 at J47 near Elmswell. 

Officers attended in both marked and unmarked vehicles, with assistance from NPAS (National Police Air Service), and rolling road blocks were placed in both directions of the A14 between junctions 43 and 42 from approximately 1:35pm.

The driver of the Jeep has then attempted to evade officers by travelling the wrong way on the A14 for a short distance, before the occupants of the vehicle decamped and ran towards woodland near the Howard Estate in Bury St Edmunds.

Officers pursued the suspects on foot before they were apprehended. Their Jeep and the five dogs were seized by police, and the A14 reopened by 2:10pm.

Four men, aged in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of multiple offences including hare coursing, failing to stop when directed to and dangerous driving. They have been released on bail to answer to police on 13 May.

Can you help?

Officers from the Rural and Wildlife Team are now looking to speak with anyone with information, and to those who may have dash cam footage that may assist with their enquiries.

To get in contact with information, use one of the following channels quoting reference 37/8814/26 via:

 

Email: rwp@suffolk.police.uk

Online - Provide more information about an appeal | Suffolk Constabulary

Call - 101

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via this link Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers