Arrest made after ‘disturbance’ at funeral for teen killed in A66 crash

The funeral for 17-year-old Cole Worthy was disrupted and police responded to reports of a disturbance inside the Teesside Crematorium service

A 39 year old man has been arrested at the funeral of one of five young men who died in a head-on collision with police on the A66, a tragedy that also claimed the lives of two armed officers.

The service at Teesside Crematorium for 17 year old Cole Worthy was thrown into disarray when officers were called to reports of a disturbance inside the venue. In the wake of the devastating crash, which claimed seven lives in total, it came to light that a property in a quiet residential street in Acklam, Middlesbrough, connected to the teenager had been deliberately rammed, causing significant damage.

Cleveland Police confirmed the arrest at the funeral on Wednesday.

Superintendent John Wrintmore said: “At around 12.30pm on Wednesday September 9, police swiftly attended to Teesside Crematorium following reports of a disturbance during a service taking place inside.

“A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been taken to police custody. The service has since resumed.

“Officers will be in the area to provide reassurance.”

The funeral coincided with that of Pc Matthew Blades, 37, whose service was held in Hartlepool on the same day. He was an armed response officer whose marked police car was struck head-on by a VW Passat in the early hours of 22nd August.

His colleague Pc Tom Clough, 38, also lost his life at the scene.

Schools had closed early for previous funerals of some of the other young men in the Passat, igniting a political row, though they remained open during the ceremony for Mr Worthy. Cleveland Police had previously suggested that the occupants of the Passat may have been connected to organised crime.