Police New Forest district commander Ch. Insp Scott Johnson arrests suspect after shoplifting and attack on staff reported at Asda on Maynard Road in Totton

A SENIOR New Forest police officer tracked down and arrested a man following a reported theft and attack on staff at a Totton supermarket.

Reports came in shortly after 11am last Wednesday, saying there had been an incident at Asda on Maynard Road.

District commander Ch. Insp Scott Johnson had been patrolling in a vehicle nearby at the time, and was searching the area for two suspects within minutes.

At 11.15am, he spotted a man matching the description given of one of the suspects.

A 25-year-old man from Smethwick, West Midlands, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and shoplifting.

Items were also seized, including drug paraphernalia and a bradawl woodworking tool.

A local police online post afterwards said: “In summary, if your image and perception of senior police officers is that they’re primarily station and deskbound during the course of their daily duties, then you may want to have a rethink.

“In addition to their core role, they are also regularly out and about, supporting their amazing teams and officers at a variety of incidents, further evidenced by Chief Inspector Johnson’s work.

“Officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and enquiries are ongoing in relation to the second suspect. We’ll do our very best to keep you all updated as much as we can.”