Man charged with attempted murder after Wiltshire Police officer seriously injured
The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday (26th April)
Last updated 27th Apr 2022
A Wiltshire Police officer has been left seriously injured trying to stop a motorist.
39 year old Marlon Kambulu Joao from Merton Court Eynsham, Oxfordshire, has been charged with attempted murder.
Officers were responding to a vehicle being driven on the wrong carriageway on the A419 near Swindon at about 12.40am yesterday morning (Tuesday 26th April).
The car was stopped by officers, but in his attempt to drive off, the suspect has caused serious injury to one officer.
The officer was taken to Great Western Hospital to be treated for her injuries which were serious but not life threatening.
She has since been discharged.
The other officer was also taken to hospital for assessment, but was thankfully not injured.
Joao has also been charged with dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of breath, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a driving licence.
He's appeared before Swindon Magistrates today (Wednesday 27th April) and remanded in custody until a hearing at Bristol Crown Court next month (27th May).
"THERE IS SIMPLY NO EXCUSE"
Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has since responded to the incident, saying it saddens him greatly.
Philip Wilkinson said:
"Those who put their lives on the line to defend, protect and keep communities safe should not have to fear for their life as they carry out their job.
“To hear a police officer has sustained serious injury at the hands of someone they were trying to apprehend saddens me greatly. I hope the officer makes a good recovery and is able to return to duty as soon as they are able but we must not under-estimate the mental effects, which can be long-lasting.
“We are all grateful the police officer escaped life-threatening injuries and has been able to return to their family but that shouldn’t detract from the fact this is utterly unacceptable – and the situation could so easily have been different. We all know of similar cases where the victim was not so fortunate.
“I have always been clear: any person assaulting an emergency service worker should expect to be prosecuted and feel the full force of the justice system. There is simply no excuse.”