Arrests and cars seized after memorial ride for teens who died after police ‘chase’
More than 50 vehicles took part in the convoy in memory of Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans
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Two people have been arrested and more than 20 vehicles seized after a memorial ride to remember two teenagers killed in a crash that sparked riots in Cardiff last month.
A convoy of more than 50 vehicles, including quad bikes, e-bikes and scramblers, took part in the ride from Ely to Barry and back on Saturday in memory of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15.
The pair died after the e-bike they were riding crashed into a bus minutes after they were being followed by a police van on May 22. Their deaths sparked unrest, which saw cars set alight and fireworks thrown towards police.
Nine people were arrested following the riot and 15 police officers were injured.
The claims of a police pursuit were initially denied by Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, but the force has since confirmed a van was following Kyrees and Harvey before the crash.
The two officers in the marked vehicle who were following the pair were served with gross misconduct notices earlier this week.
While they are under investigation, it does not neccessarily mean that disciplinary action will follow.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it was looking at the nature of the police interaction with the two boys prior to the collision and the appropriateness of the police officers’ decisions and actions.
South Wales Police put out an appeal for information after the weekend’s memory ride, saying “some of those involved drove in a manner that exposed road users and pedestrians to risk”.
On Friday, officers carried out an early morning raid at a property in Wilson Road, Ely.
A 28-year-old man from Ely was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, careless driving and the cultivation of cannabis.
A 41-year-old man from Ely was held on suspicion of handling stolen goods and the cultivation of cannabis.
Some 11 quad bikes, nine scrambler motorbikes, two all-terrain vehicles and one road motorbike were seized and will be examined, police said.
The force urged anyone with footage of the convoy to submit it to help with their inquiries.