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Reading stolen car policeman crash 'was attempted murder' Reading police officer hit by stolen car 'attempted murder'
(about 4 hours later)
A crash that critically injured a police officer attempting to stop a stolen car in Reading is now being treated as attempted murder. A crash that left a police officer critically hurt as he tried to stop a stolen car in Reading is being treated as attempted murder.
Gareth Browning, 33, was on foot at the time of the crash in the Whitley area on Saturday evening when the black Mazda Aerosport hit him. Gareth Browning, 33, was on foot in Whitley on Saturday evening, when he was hit by a black Mazda Aerosport.
PC Browning was flown to hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition. His colleague was unharmed. A man, 28, and woman, 31 were later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. A 34-year old woman was held on suspicion of assisting an offender.
He has been based at Loddon Valley police station in Reading since 2003. PC Browning remains in a critical-but-stable condition in hospital.
His colleague was unharmed.
PC Browning has been based at Loddon Valley police station in Reading, since 2003.
'A shock'
The car, with registration number KB07 LBV, was stolen during a burglary in Sonning Common, just outside Reading, on 21 November.The car, with registration number KB07 LBV, was stolen during a burglary in Sonning Common, just outside Reading, on 21 November.
Police are still looking for the driver who failed to stop after hitting the officer in on Lower Earley Way West. The car was later found abandoned in nearby Corrine Close. It was later found abandoned in nearby Corrine Close.
Male driver Assistant Chief Constable John Campbell said PC Browning had become aware of the stolen car and was in the process of deploying a stop stick, which has spikes on it and is placed across the road to deflate a car's tyres, when he was struck by it.
Assistant Chief Constable John Campbell, of Thames Valley Police, said about 40 officers were involved in the investigation of "what we're considering now to be an attempted murder". "Anytime an officer is injured in the line of duty it is clearly something that comes as a shock to us all," he said.
"We believe at this stage that there was one occupant of the vehicle.
"Obviously we can't be aware if people are hiding or ducking down, but there was certainly one male occupant."
He said PC Browning had become aware of the stolen car and was in the process of deploying a stop stick, which has spikes on it and is placed across the road to deflate the tyres of the car, when he was hit.
"Anytime an officer is injured in the line of duty it is clearly something that comes as a shock to us all.
"That officer went on duty that afternoon with the sole purpose of protecting the public and he's ended up in a very seriously ill condition in hospital.""That officer went on duty that afternoon with the sole purpose of protecting the public and he's ended up in a very seriously ill condition in hospital."
Thames Valley Police tweeted: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our injured colleague."Thames Valley Police tweeted: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our injured colleague."
ACC Campbell urged anyone who saw the burglary or who saw the Mazda in the Reading or Sonning Common area between 21 November and Saturday to contact police. ACC Campbell urged anyone who saw the burglary or who saw the Mazda in the Reading or Sonning Common area, between 21 November and Saturday, to contact police.
The crash happened at about 17:30 GMT.The crash happened at about 17:30 GMT.