POLICE IN THE North arrested a 28-year-old man in Ballymena last night, after he used two cars to try to escape from a car dealership compound in the Woodside Road area.

Four police officers were injured, and two police vehicles damaged, in the incident, which saw the assailant smash two cars against the gates of the premises.

The alarm was raised of a burglary in progress at around 1.40am this morning. When police arrived, they saw a man attempting to force his way out of the gate at the dealership.

First, he tried with a Ford Kuga and that didn’t work.

For his second attempt, he used a Volkswagen Polo and this time it did work.

A police car positioned outside was struck as the suspect tried to leave the scene. However, a stinger device was deployed to deflate his tyres.

He was arrested a short distance from the scene.

The 28-year-old remains in custody at this time, on suspicion of a number of offences.

Police believe that the man may have been dropped off at Woodside Road, and are appealing for anyone who may have noticed a vehicle that looked out of place in the area last night to come forward.

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