Hero officers tell how they seized a killer
TWO heroic policemen today told of the terrifying moment they arrested knife-obsessed murderer Jordan Davidson – as he repeatedly hit one with a claw hammer and threatened to shoot them both.
Amid chaotic scenes, it took two blasts of CS spray and four taser attempts to overpower the 26-year-old who was on a violent crime spree, which included the brutal killing of disabled Wrexham pensioner Nicholas Churton .
Police constables Rhys Rushby and David Hall were forced to battle for their lives after stopping a car which had been involved in a violent robbery in Chester.
It was near the end of their shift on March 28 last year as they discovered Davidson hiding beneath a pile of blankets and sleeping bags on the back seat.
Davidson, from Wrexham, was on the run after murdering the 67-year-old former restaurateur with a machete days earlier and he was still grasping a large kitchen knife as the brave officers finally restrained him.
Recalling their ordeal, Pc Rushby said: “We had not long returned to Flint police station after a job when we received reports that a car involved in a violent robbery in Chester could be in the area.
“We saw the car so we stopped directly in front of it and called for back up. One man got out of the driver’s side and there was a woman in the passenger seat, so we approached to speak to them. While I was taking the details of the man, Pc Hall started speaking to someone in the rear of the vehicle, I hadn’t seen anyone in the back so I was quite surprised.”
Pc Hall said: “There were lots of items in the back seat of the car including a wheelchair, blankets and a bit of tent or something. Then I saw a set of eyes and a hand moving in the back so I spoke to the lad. I opened the door to start negotiating him out of the car, but when I took his hood down, I instantly recognised who it was. Pc Rhys Rushby, left, and Pc David Hall
“At that moment, I literally couldn’t speak and he realised that I’d recognised him. Suddenly he reached back into the car and produced a claw hammer and lifted it above his head. I don’t remember much, but I remember turning and he just hit me on the shoulder and that’s when it all turned a bit chaotic.”
By this time, other officers had arrived so Pc Rushby ran to help his colleague. He said: “I could see that Pc Hall was struggling on the back door and as I ran round, I saw him being hit repeatedly with a claw hammer. I sprayed the suspect a couple of times, but it had no effect, so I ran around to the other side of the car and opened the door.
“As that’s happened, he’s slid back into the car towards me so his head was inches from mine. He was hitting and scratching me and at one point, I tried to wrap a sleeping bag around his head to try to stop him.
“He kept on going and then started screaming that he’s got a gun and he’s going to kill us, he’s going to shoot us.”
Pc Rushby said: “It was really scary, probably up there with one of the scariest moments I’ve had during my time in the force.”
Pc Hall, who escaped with cuts and bruises after being attacked with the claw hammer, added: “We were really lucky. I’ll be honest, when I knew who it was, I knew we’d be in trouble.
“But you just do your job don’t you? It’s what we’re here to do.”
Davidson, 26, from Wrexham, was jailed for life last November for the murder of Mr Churton, who was found dead in his one-bed flat in Crescent Close, Wrexham, on March 23 last year.
Meanwhile, in recognition of their outstanding bravery, Pc Rushby and Pc Hall were given commendations by Chief Constable Mark Polin.