Coventry teen Reiko Murphy, 19, has been sentenced after police officers found him hiding between two garages with an imitation gun. Murphy was sentenced after the incident which took place on February 29 (Image: Warwickshire Police)

Police message for teen caught hiding in alley with imitation gun

Reiko Murphy, 19, was caught after officers convinced him to come out of his hiding place between two garages

by · Birmingham Live

Police who chased down a teen with an imitation gun issued a stark message to prevent further misery in communities. Reiko Murphy was collared by officers who found him hiding in an alley between two garages.

Warwickshire Police officers responding to reports of a fight spotted Murphy, 19, flee towards a park in Bedworth in February. Officers discovered he had tried to hide a revolver-type weapon in the alley.

Sending a message to Murphy after his sentencing, investigating officer Det Con Ward, of Warwickshire Police's North CID, said the force "would not tolerate this behaviour in communities". A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: "Two senior officers were on patrol when a call came in for assistance with two males reportedly fighting on Coventry Road, Bedworth.

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"At 10.15pm on February 29, Chief Inspector (now, Superintendent) Steve Davies and Inspector Ryan Price were informed that one of the two males (Reiko Murphy) had made off into a nearby park and gave chase.

"On spotting the subject near Windmill Road in Exhall, Chief Insp Davies got out of the police vehicle and pursued Murphy on foot, eventually convincing him to stop after he unsuccessfully tried to hide between two garages.

"Insp Price arrived shortly afterwards and arrested Murphy. A search showed Murphy had attempted to hide a revolver-type weapon in the alley between the garages – later confirmed to be a realistic-looking blank firing weapon."

Murphy, of Agincourt Road in Coventry, was locked up for 42 weeks for possession of an imitation firearm. He was also required to pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.

Det Con Ward said: “Murphy was carrying a highly-realistic looking blank firing revolver, most likely for intimidation purposes.

“Thanks to a quick capture of Murphy, as well as the vigilant eye of our Patrol officers, we were able to demonstrate to Murphy that we won’t tolerate this behaviour in our communities.”