A TRAFFIC officer arrested a Coventry man despite being allegedly punched momentarily unconscious after he stopped him for driving offences.
West Midlands Police say Ian Sneath, aged 35, assaulted the officer, punching him several times in the face, after being stopped on Treforest Road in Stoke at around 12.20am yesterday morning (April 3).
Sneath is to appear at Coventry Magistrates Court after being charged for assault of a police officer in the execution of their duty.
The officer fell unconscious briefly but managed to get to his feet and chase the man who had abandoned his car and fled on foot.
He was later found to be wanted by Derbyshire Police in connection with an armed robbery.
The officer was treated by paramedics for facial injuries at the scene and taken to hospital, where he was discharged a short time later.
Superintendent Dean Hatton, Head of Force Traffic, said: “This incident highlights once again the dangers officers face every single day, as they put themselves in harm’s way to deal with dangerous situations.
“Despite being punched in the face and losing consciousness for a short amount of time, the officer still managed to chase and detain the suspect. This shows the level of dedication and commitment this officer went to, to protect the public.”