A 999 call was received on Monday 4 March 2024 in relation to a serious assault involving a bladed article within a property in Powell Close, Seaton.
Local officers arrived on scene and located a victim who had suffered a significant injury.
Multiple units were deployed to the town of Seaton and the surrounding locality to conduct extensive searches for the suspect who was believed to have been on foot.
This deployment included armed police units, local neighbourhood and response officers, and a police helicopter as well as specialist crews from South West Ambulance.
Whilst this dynamic deployment continued, investigative enquiries were progressed. Detectives and specialist officers were assigned and provided swift support to the deployed ground units.
As the incident progressed, information was received that the suspect had travelled out of the immediate area. An address was identified within Somerset as a possible location and local neighbourhood officers from East Devon immediately deployed across the border. With support from Avon and Somerset officers, our officers secured entry into this address and the suspect was arrested.
The victim was conveyed by South West Ambulance teams to the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital where he received treatment for his injury.
Detectives from Exeter CID have led the investigation throughout the day and have secured a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent (contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861), as well as charges for attempt robbery and an offence of threatening a person with a bladed article.
The suspect has been remanded in police custody and will be presented at court where the onwards action and outcome shall be duly determined.
We appreciate that the presence of armed officers on such a scale raised concerns within the community. However, this was an isolated incident and there is no additional threat to the wider public.
We would also like to thank the members of the public who assisted on the ground with information throughout the day.
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