Armed robber who escaped jail caught after coming out of hiding
Bungling armed robber who escaped jail is caught in the street by police after coming out of hiding ‘to buy Call Of Duty’ – then slips over as he tries to kick officers and flee
- Clint Butler was serving 17-year extended sentence at HMP Spring Hill, Bucks
- He absconded in November before Thames Valley Police issued him as wanted
- West Midlands Police stopped Butler last month after acting suspiciously
- Butler then kicked one officer in the groin and punched another in the face
- He was restrained and arrested before eventually admitting he was on the run
- He has since been jailed for 13 months for absconding and six months for assault
This is the shocking moment a bungling armed robber, who escaped from prison, is caught by police after coming out of hiding ‘to buy Call Of Duty’ before slipping over as he tried to kick officers and flee.
Clint Butler had been serving a 17-year extended sentence at HMP Spring Hill open prison, Buckinghamshire, for crimes including robbery and firearms offences which was due to finish in 2024.
But he absconded in November last year and was issued as wanted by Thames Valley Police who urged the public not to approach him.
Officers from West Midlands Police stopped Butler after spotting him and a friend acting suspiciously in Birmingham city centre in January.
It was then that he kicked one officer in the groin and punched another in the face before he was eventually restrained using incapacitant spray and arrested.
He initially gave officers a false name before admitting he was on the run.
Butler has since been jailed for 13 months for absconding from prison and six months consecutively for assaulting the officers.
Fugitive armed robber Clint Butler was caught on camera attacking police officers in Birmingham city centre after coming out of hiding to buy Call of Duty
PCs Mark Owen and Allison Brown spotted Butler making an abrupt change in direction as the officers approached on January 13.
PC Owen asked Butler why he was in town during the coronavirus lockdown before his friend replied: ‘I’ve come to get the new Call of Duty because I can’t sit around in lockdown.’
The officer then told the pair he would be checking their details which prompted Butler to lash out and kick him in the groin.
But Butler lost his footing and slipped to the ground.
Officers rushed to tackle him and called for back-up as the tussle continued before Butler punched PC Brown in the face.
Eventually Butler was restrained using incapacitant spray and handcuffed as security guards came to help the officers.
He initially gave a false name, and admitted having cannabis on him, but police were able established his real identity.
Butler is now back behind bars after being jailed for 13 months for absconding from prison, and six months consecutively for assaulting the officers.
Superintendent Nick Rowe said: ‘This was great work by our officers, acting on instinct that there was something not quite right and then challenging the men.
‘The situation escalated really quickly, but both PCs put their training to good effect by restraining Butler, subduing him and getting him safely in handcuffs, while also calling for back-up from officers nearby.
‘I’d like to thank the security staff who came to help our officers.
He kicked one officer in the groin and punched another in the face before he was eventually restrained using incapacitant spray and arrested
Butler (pictured during the tussle) has since been jailed for 13 months for absconding from prison and six months consecutively for assaulting the officers
‘It also shows the power of body-worn video, with the officers turning their cameras on before they started speaking to the men.
‘It meant the whole episode was clearly caught on camera and there was no doubt about what happened.
‘Quite why he decided to risk being returned to prison by making the idiotic decision to come into town during lockdown with a friend to buy a video game will remain a bit of a mystery.’
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