Coventry man arrested after hoax call led to armed siege

[dutchman]

A hoax call to police sparked a three hour siege involving armed police in Birmingham.

Police received a call at around 6.20am from a man claiming another man armed with a gun was in a flat in Forth Drive, Chelmsley Wood, threatening to shoot the occupants.

Armed officers were immediately despatched and sealed-off the area surrounding the tower block.

Just after 9am a 33-year-old man came out of the property and was searched by officers. A 62-year old woman who was also present was spoken to.

Police said that it quickly became apparent that the pair were unaware of the hoax call which had been made to police and no weapons were found at the property.

West Midlands Police said that a 43-year-old man remained in custody today in connection with the hoax call.

The man was arrested at an address in Coventry.

The mobile phone was traced to an address near Allesley Park, Coventry and the 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wasting police time.

Inspector Gregg Richards, from Solihull police, said: "Hoax calls are highly irresponsible and can cost lives.

"Fortunately, the incident had a safe outcome but things could have had deadly consequences for the man."

The man remains in police custody and the motive for the call is unknown.

[dutchman]

Allesley man bailed over hoax gunman call

A 43-YEAR-OLD Coventry man has been bailed in connection with a hoax firearm call.

He was arrested in Allesley on Saturday morning after a 999 call was made about a gunman in Chelmsley Wood.

That led to a siege involving armed officers, but the incident was a hoax.

The call was traced and a man, 43, was questioned for wasting police time.

[dutchman]

Coventry man charged over Chelmsley Wood hoax siege call

A 43-year-old Coventry man has been charged with wasting police time over a hoax call that led to a three-hour siege at a tower block.

West Midlands Police said dozens of officers, some armed, were involved in the incident on Saturday, 7 April.

A caller had claimed a man with a gun was in a flat in Forth Drive, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, threatening to shoot the occupants, police said.

The man charged will appear at Solihull Magistrates' Court, on 11 May.

[dutchman]

Allesley Park man avoids jail over hoax call

A MAN from Coventry who sparked an armed siege at a tower block in a row over a £40 computer game has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Raymond Thomas was given a 28-day term, suspended for a year, by Solihull magistrates.

The 43-year-old, of Allesley Park, Coventry, pleaded guilty to wasting police time last month after he lied about his ex-partner being held at gunpoint.

Sandra Jordan’s Chelmsley Wood tower block was evacuated when officers were told her son Simon was pointing a gun at her head. Thomas sparked the hoax because he thought Simon had sold his computer game at Cash Converters.

Sandra, aged 62, knew nothing of the alert for almost three hours as she happily watched Emmerdale in her flat.

The grandmother of 12 only discovered her home was surrounded by police when she spoke to a hostage negotiator at around 9am on April 7.