A teenager has been arrested after an assault on a off-duty police officer in broad daylight today.
It happened in Cheney Manor Road at around 5.40pm where the victim – a male Wiltshire Police officer – was approached and hit over the head with an unknown object.
Armed officers and the helicopter supported local police as they searched for the suspect in the Cheney Manor, Pinehurst and Ferndale area of the town for several hours before an arrest was made.
Wiltshire Police tonight confirmed that a suspect – a 17-year-old boy – has been arrested in suspicion of attempted Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and is currently in custody awaiting interview.
Superintendent Chris Chammings said: “Although our enquiries are at a very early stage, this appears to have been a targeted attack on a police officer.
“Thankfully, the officer involved does not appear to be seriously injured, but it is frightening to think how this could have easily had a very different outcome.
“I would urge anyone who witnessed the assault, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area around the time of the incident, to contact police urgently.”
Anyone with information should call Swindon CID on 101, quoting log 270 of today.
