Cleveland Police have arrested two people from Hartlepool as part of a wider inquiry into two separate firearm discharges in Middlesbrough earlier this week, the force has confirmed.
Incidents in Grangetown and South Bank
Police believe the discharges, reported in the Grangetown and South Bank areas of Middlesbrough, are connected. Officers responded to an incident in Grangetown late on 22 July when a weapon was fired at a Flint Close address while two people were present. The following afternoon, a second report of shots being fired was received from a property on Bevanlee Road in South Bank.
So far, detectives have detained a total of 12 people linked to the two incidents. No injuries have been reported in either case.
Arrests related to Hartlepool
Among those taken into custody were two Hartlepool residents. A 40-year-old man from the town was arrested on 23 July and subsequently charged with the offence of possessing a firearm without a certificate, in addition to charges relating to the possession with intent to supply controlled drugs in both class A and class B categories. He was scheduled to appear before court at the weekend.
A 26-year-old man, also from Hartlepool, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.
What we know so far
- Two separate shootings were reported in Middlesbrough: Flint Close, Grangetown (approx. 10.50pm, 22 July) and Bevanlee Road, South Bank (approx. 3.15pm, 23 July).
- Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the incidents; no-one was physically harmed.
- Charges against one Hartlepool man include unlawful possession of a firearm and alleged offences linked to class A and B drugs.
- Another Hartlepool man remains on conditional bail while investigations continue.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of arrests so far | 12 |
| Hartlepool suspects | 40-year-old charged; 26-year-old on conditional bail |
| Reported dates | 22–23 July |
Local impact and next steps
Detectives continue to piece together events and gather evidence. The arrests underline a cross-border dimension to the investigation, with individuals from Hartlepool being implicated in offences that occurred in Middlesbrough. Residents living near the scenes were informed by officers during initial responses and there has been an increased policing presence while enquiries proceed.
Anyone with information relevant to the incidents who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Cleveland Police quoting the relevant incident details, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously if they prefer.
This office will continue to monitor the investigation and publish further updates as they become available.
