Yahoo News 'Age is just a number!' Police officer, 74, chases down car chase suspect, 29, on foot, to make arrest
A 74-year-old police officer managed to chase down and arrest a man 45 younger than him after a high-speed road pursuit and foot chase.
Special constable Keith Smith, thought to be one of Britain’s oldest serving police officers, was out fighting crime in Benfleet, Essex when he tried to pull over a 29-year-old suspect Paul Tait.
However, the driver failed to stop for Constable Smith and the officer began pursuing the car in a high-speed chase.
Our very own @SCKeithSmith has just had a vehicle FTS for him in Benfleet. Despite being 74yrs old he engaged in not only the pursuit but a foot chase detaining the suspect in the gardens of a nearby house. @EssexSpecials @EssexPoliceUK @EP_RPU_South @EP_RPU_North @DCCPippaMills pic.twitter.com/HuSYrMCnGd
— Essex Roads Policing (@EPRoadsPolicing) March 26, 2019
The driver of the car pulled over and fled on foot shortly after the chase begun and Constable Smith leapt out of his patrol car and gave chase to the man on foot through residential gardens in Benfleet, Essex.
Following the pursuit through the neighbourhood, Constable Smith located the suspected in the garden of a nearby house and managed to subdue and arrest him.
The Essex Roads Policing Unit tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: “Our very own Special Constable Keith Smith has just had a vehicle FTS for him in Benfleet.
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“Despite being 74 years old he engaged in not only the pursuit but a foot chase detaining the suspect in the gardens of a nearby house.”
The humble officer said: “What I did is nothing special, my unit do that sort of thing several times a week.
“It is just the age thing. Age is just a number, I am nothing special just still fit and active fortunately.
“There are many other police officers much more deserving of praise than myself.
“I am embarrassed by the publicity.”
Paul Tait, of no fixed address, has been charged with driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failure to stop and harassment.
