TWO WEST Midlands Police Community Support Officers have been praised for the crucial role they played in helping catch a knifeman who stabbed a man in Coventry city centre.
Ervin Negrobar stabbed the 37-year-old in Ironmonger Row on December 15 last year in an unprovoked attack as he was waiting to collect his wife.
The victim suffered a stab wound to his shoulder and is still recovering.
The attacker’s description was circulated on the police radio system to all officers, including PCSO Lauren Galloway who was on beat patrol with her colleague.
They spotted Negrobar around 20 minutes after the 9pm attack and, suspecting he could be the attacker, engaged him in conversation before following from a safe distance and relaying his movements to warranted officers.
Negrobar was detained in the street and found with a bloodied knife tucked inside his waistband.
The 23-year-old, of no fixed address, went on to admit wounding and has now been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Investigating officer Det Con Paul Deeley, praised the PCSOs’ actions.
He said: “Much of the credit goes to Lauren and her colleague.
“They spotted him based on description and struck up a conversation to keep him in the vicinity for longer.
“They gave police officers a running commentary and basically herded Negrobar into their path before he was surrounded and arrested.
“It was a great team effort.
“The victim was simply waiting to collect his wife from work.
“Negrobar began banging on the car windows and bonnet and kept trying the door handle – it’s not clear what his motivation was.”
The victim saw his wife approaching and got out to protect her.
A fight ensued in which he was stabbed once just above the collar bone.
DC Deeley added: “He has suffered nerve damage from which he’s still recovering and I wish him well with his continued rehabilitation.
“I hope the fact we’ve delivered swift justice against the attacker, and that he’s been jailed for several years, will act as some comfort.”
