A SOUTH Yorkshire Police officer viciously assaulted by a man who was wanted for driving and knife crimes – but whose actions managed to help detain him – has been nominated for The National Police Bravery Awards.<\/p>\n
Sgt Richard Pettican originally pursued the man who had been identified as a suspect following the theft of a car at knifepoint.<\/p>\n
He and an associate were also wanted for a knife attack earlier that day on three men in a block of flats in Doncaster.<\/p>\n
They had been spotted getting out of the stolen car on CCTV, before they used it to make their escape.<\/p>\n
They then crashed the car allowing officers including Sgt Pettican to set off in pursuit of them.<\/p>\n
A short time later, Sgt Pettican spotted one of the suspects in an alleyway and despite the man being considerably larger than him, went to make the arrest.<\/p>\n
The suspect reacted aggressively to the attempt to detain him and assaulted Sgt Pettican several times all the while trying to use his baton against him.<\/p>\n
When that didn\u2019t work the assailant managed to get hold of the officer\u2019s handcuffs and began hitting him with them instead.<\/p>\n
Sgt Pettican was seriously injured during the attack but would not back down, an act which allowed colleagues to come to his aid and eventually detain the violent aggressor.<\/p>\n
The man was arrested and charged with two knife point robberies, a whole host of driving offences and the violent assault on Sgt Pettican.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Zuleika Payne said Sgt Pettican had showed great determination and courage to ensure the suspect didn\u2019t escape.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis man was involved in a number of knife related crimes and without Sgt Pettican he could still be at large.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he did potentially saved many more members of the public from becoming victims of a knifepoint robbery or assault.<\/p>\n
\u201cSgt Pettican was seriously injured in this horrific incident which makes his determination and bravery even more outstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cMyself and all our South Yorkshire colleagues are very proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sgt Pettican will attend a reception and an evening awards ceremony in London in July.\u00a0 The National Police Bravery Awards honour officers who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.\u00a0 The awards are sponsored by Police Mutual.<\/p>\n