Man 'caught in wheelie bin' after fleeing scene of Christmas Eve crash

A police dog chased down a fleeing suspect who jumped into a wheelie bin after a crash in Haddington on Christmas Eve.

PD Axe was on hand to assist officers from the Lothian and Borders divisions after two men attempted to flee the scene of a single vehicle crash.

Axe’s handler noticed the men fleeing on foot but the presence of the police dog meant one suspect “gave up”, according to the force.

A second man took refuge in a wheelie bin but was found. Police said an 18-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.45am on Sunday, 24 December, 2023 officers were called to reports of a single vehicle crash in the Abbotsview Interchange area of Haddington.

“The driver and passenger of the vehicle left the scene before officers arrived.

“An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with road traffic offences.

“A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

#PDAxe assisted @PSOSLothBord in Haddington on Sunday when a car crashed & 2 men ran off. Axe's handler saw them & they started to run, but with Axe out of the van one gave up & the other was spotted jumping into a wheelie bin! Both traced. Enquiries ongoing.#DidHeWheelieDoThat pic.twitter.com/ADBJqR0Z4L
— Police Scotland Dogs (@PSOSDogs) December 28, 2023

Police Scotland keeps three types of dogs in service – general-purpose, drugs specialised and explosive detection dogs.

The general-purpose dogs are mainly German shepherds and some Belgian shepherds.

The drugs dogs are mainly springer spaniels, and the explosives dogs are border collies and spaniels.

General-purpose dogs for crowd control, finding missing persons and to pursue and detain suspects in relation to criminal activity.

Police Scotland Dogs posted on X: “PD Axe assisted Police Scotland Lothian and Borders in Haddington on Sunday when a car crashed and two men ran off.

“Axe’s handler saw them and they started to run, but with Axe out of the van one gave up and the other was spotted jumping into a wheelie bin.”

The force then added the hashtag “DidHeWheelieDoThat” to the tweet.