Birmingham's viral police officer whose knife chase was viewed by more than 1 million
A Birmingham police officer has spoken of the dramatic moment he chased down a knifeman in a city tunnel.
Sergeant Richard Fryer spotted Mouhammad Diagne outside Erdington train station in Station Road on January 20 - and swiftly proceeded to give chase to him after the 22-year-old tried to pedal off.
Sgt Fryer proceeded to seize a lock knife from Diagne, who later admitted possession of a knife when he swiftly appeared before city magistrates on January 22. Bodycam footage of Sgt Fryer's chase and subsequent search resulted in a whopping 1.3 million views on YouTube, giving him the local nickname of 'fearless Rich.'
READ MORE: West Midland Police chief's verdict on knife crime, begging and bin strikes as new operations lands
Sgt Fryer is part of West Midlands Police's Operation Fearless team, a group formed of uniformed, plain clothed and cycling officers, rolled out to crack down on criminals travelling in to cause misery in Birmingham.
The team launched in Erdington in January, where crime cost the taxpayer an estimated £7 million and now attention has turned to Birmingham's Southside district.
BirminghamLive met Sgt Fryer on patrol on Tuesday April 29 ahead of Operation Fearless' on drug dealing, money laundering, violence and theft.
On January's knife stop, Sgt Fryer recalled: "He was acting suspicious around Erdington train station and failed to stop and comply with instructions.
"[I chased] him over a short distance with my push bike and he was found to have a lock knife."
The video shows how Sgt Fryer's quick thinking tactics underneath the rail bridge resulted in him getting a knife off the streets.
Sgt Fryer says in the video: 'Hello mate, how are you doing, are you all good? You going to stop for me?'
Diagne then turns down Johnson Road and Sgt Fryer says: 'Yeah, he's making off'. He spots Diagne 'taking something out of his waistband.
Sgt Fryer calls for assistance from 'someone in a car' as they travel down Dean Road and shouts at the 22-year-old: 'Stop where you are please. Stop where you are.'
Sgt Fryer tells him he is being detained for a search, with a second officer taking items out of Diagne's pocket, one of which being a lock knife.
The 48-year-old officer has been with West Midlands Police for 25 years, and told BirminghamLive he is a strong advocate of policing on cycles.
"The bike is a really useful tool for city centre policing and especially with criminals using electric bikes and electric scooters we have had many arrests.
"It is the best way to police. We are going to get lots of arrests."
When asked if people recognise him from the viral video, the calm-mannered officer joked that most of the million views came his family.
"People recognise my voice...people know that I am a keen advocate for bike patrols," he added.
You can read everything from our patrol with the Fearless team here.
Sgt Fryer was previously a responder in Acocks Green and then West Midlands Police's Guardian Taskforce.
His attention will now turn to the drug dealing, money laundering, violence and theft that blights Birmingham's Southside district.
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