A suspect jumped into a canal to escape a police helicopter, dog and marine unit pursuing him.
Police put on their sirens at the Crooked Billet Roundabout in Walthamstow when they spotted a car believed to be displaying false plates.
Officers and an NPAS police helicopter embarked on a 15-minute high speed chase down Watermead Way, in Tottenham.
One police car was damaged in the pursuit and collided with a lampost.
The suspects fled the vehicle at 11.19am on Monday and entered a nearby nature reserve in Tottenham Marshes.
The older of the suspects jumped into the River Lea at Stonebridge Lock with police dogs in hot pursuit.
He managed to evade capture for more than an hour, getting out of the canal briefly before jumping back in, police said.
One man working nearby told The Standard: “The police were pursuing him and he jumped into the river to getaway.
“There were a lot of police on the scene. They evacuated the entire marshes and told us to stay back.”
Two people were subsequently arrested.
The man who entered the canal was arrested at about 12:25pm for theft of motor vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
He was also checked over by paramedics but no serious injuries were reported.
The juvenile was arrested for suspected theft of motor vehicle and possession of an offensive weapon.
Pursuit police car rammed. 2 decamped. Both detained but only after a very long swim/wade in the canal, inc. officers, dog and marine unit. You can run/swim, whatever takes your fancy, but you cant hide from the Met! Well done everyone😍 #teamwork @MetTaskforce @MPSHaringey pic.twitter.com/zBmpncY6V1
— NPAS London (@NPASLondon) February 22, 2022
Helicopter police NPAS tweeted: “Pursuit police car rammed. 2 decamped. Both detained but only after a very long swim/wade in the canal, inc. officers, dog and marine unit.
“You can run/swim, whatever takes your fancy, but you can’t hide from the Met! Well done everyone.”
