Police officers who made arrest in monkey and zebra onesies commended for bravery - Update

A pair of off-duty police officers who arrested a man while dressed as a zebra and a monkey have been commended for their bravery. PCs Tracy Griffin and Terri Cave, based at Solihill in the West Midlands, were wearing zebra and monkey onesies when they were confronted by the man in March last year.



They were picking up drinks and snacks at a supermarket in Coventry for a friend’s party when they spotted him threatening women inside the store. The pair stepped in while they waited for uniformed colleagues after a shop worker dialled 999. However the man became more aggressive and even chased one woman on to a bus.

The man was pursued outside the store and the fancy dress-clad duo grappled him to the ground - despite fears he was carrying a weapon. Other officers arrived within minutes to arrest the man and take him in to police custody on suspicion of public order offences. At a ceremony in Edgbaston, Birmingham, they picked up the commendation from West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims.



Chief Supt Alex Murray, from Solihull Police, said: “Joking apart, PCs Griffin and Cave were faced with a very dangerous man in difficult circumstances and they stepped up to the plate. Let’s not lose focus on the risk they exposed themselves to, without any protection − in tackling this man. Whether they were in fancy dress or not − the fact is they chose to put a member of the public’s safety above their own and then cancelled their night out to make sure a professional job was done.”