Dog handler PC Dan Thomas says he was determined to keep on the scent and he and his alsatian got a ‘good result’ after arresting suspected thief

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A police officer who became impaled on a fence spike while chasing a suspected motorbike thief arrested the man after pulling himself free.

PC Dan Thomas collapsed from “significant blood loss” after he and his police dog Gil found the 22-year-old hiding in a bush, West Midlands police said.

He required 15 stitches to a wound in his biceps after being taken to hospital in the early hours of Saturday. Thomas, who is now recovering at home, said: “I knew Gil was on to the suspect. I could see the blood pouring down my arm but was determined we had to keep on the scent and catch him.

“It was a good result in the end with two in custody – and we also recovered a stolen car that we believe the offenders arrived in.

“I’ve read a lot of kind words of support from members of the public. It’s very heart-warming and I really do appreciate all their best wishes.”

Thomas, a police officer with West Midlands for 16 years, chased the man with his alsatian after other officers had arrested a 16-year-old boy in the Walmley area of Sutton Coldfield.

A police spokesman said: “Gil indicated their target had clambered over an 8ft-high spiked fence.

“But as Dan lifted the dog over and jumped down, his jacket snagged and sent a spike tearing into his biceps.

“Despite the wound … and with blood pouring down his arm, Dan continued tracking with Gil and, shortly after, found a 22-year-old man hiding in bushes.”

Both males were arrested on suspicion of attempted vehicle theft, the spokesman added.

Thomas said: “The officers quickly found me and applied a tourniquet to prevent further blood loss.

“[The paramedics and doctors] said I was lucky and that with such a serious wound I could have suffered a very serious arterial bleed.”