The tense moment firearms officers arrive on the scene after a report of two men making threats with a handgun is captured in dramatic footage to be shown on TV tonight 18 January.
In the video, released ahead of tonight’s episode of Police Interceptors, PCs Lisa Desantis and Lewis Marshall are seen to arrive on scene and a dramatic stand-off ensues.
PC Desantis said: “I remember arriving in the Bowbridge Road area of Newark and finding the alleged victim hiding out in a shop.
“He told us that he was chased in to the shop by the offenders after they had threatened him with a black handgun. He was incredibly scared and shaken by what happened and really feared for his life.
“Our priorities quickly switched to locating the offenders and we were able to track down the getaway car to Balderton following our enquiries.
The incident happened at around 6.15pm on 16 March 2020. The firearms duo were on their way to the location when the suspect vehicle passed them in London Road.
PC Desantis added: “I felt a burst of adrenaline as it went passed us and we began our pursuit. We reached a dead end and I knew we would have to deal with the offender alone as our colleagues were still making their way to the location.”
“You don’t really get chance to think about anything other than the job in hand as it all happens so quickly but due to the intense training we receive and regularly dealing with potentially dangerous people doing this specialised job comes naturally.
“We then detained the occupant of the car until the rest of the team arrived and further enquiries and searches led to two more people being arrested.”
PC Desantis has been an authorised firearms for seven years and finds the job incredibly exciting and rewarding. She said: “It’s a really gratifying role to be in but also very challenging and requires lots of regular training and a certain level of fitness that I have to maintain.
“I am one of five female firearms officers in Nottinghamshire and most of our colleagues are men but we are like one big happy family and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am very proud of what we do.
“As a firearms officer I deal with the most serious incidents, including serious road traffic collisions, across Nottinghamshire . As for the training, it is tough but I love a good challenge and I really enjoy days on the range firing the weaponry.”
Tonight’s Interceptors show then goes on to feature PC Desantis once more as she is tasked with recovering a handgun found abandoned in a gutter with live rounds in the chamber. Within minutes herself and firearms colleague PC Marshall are back behind the wheel, pursuing four lads allegedly joyriding in a suspected stolen combi van.
PC Desantis also gets her hands dirty in the episode when a knife is dumped in the ladies loos in the city centre. She said: “I’d suspected a male suspect was disposing a weapon when I saw him exit the women’s loos. It was the only hiding place in the premises but what he didn’t realise was that knives do not flush away. It’s just a shame I had to wait for a woman to finish throwing up before I could retrieve it!”
Meanwhile, the Knife Crime Team are featured on the tail of a suspected drug dealer who’s acting suspiciously. A frantic race to his flat results in a thorough search – during which the lads unearth some items of interest, including a machete and a knuckleduster.
Finally, a shabby looking Zafira believed to be stolen has pinged an ANPR camera on the outskirts of town. The erratic driver is eventually pulled over by the Interceptor’s crew and when they pull him over, it’s not just the car that’s worse for wear.
Catch more of the action in Police Interceptors tonight and every Monday at 8pm on My5.
