A routine emergency call spiraled into tragedy in Stockport. The incident highlights ongoing issues within the police force and the devastating impact on a young victim’s life.
Stockport: On Boxing Day 2020, a 999 call came in at 9:16 PM. It seemed like just another domestic dispute. A drunken man was causing chaos at a house in Adswood.
But by 9:29 PM, things escalated. The caller reported the man had a knife and was threatening to set the house on fire. You could hear screams on the line.
This prompted Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to treat it as a life-threatening situation. Unfortunately, this call would lead to a heartbreaking series of events.
At that time, GMP was struggling. Just a week earlier, they were put in special measures due to a poor report. The pressure was on, with only 20% of response team drivers trained to handle emergencies.
At Cheadle Heath police station, only a few officers were on duty. Among them was rookie officer PC Sarah De Meulemeester, who had just started her dream job.
She was sent to respond to the call alone, which didn’t sit right with her colleagues, PCs Michael Blakey and Boris McDohl. They were nearby, listening to the unfolding drama.
Instead of staying put, they decided to join her. They didn’t know another officer was already in her car.
Meanwhile, 15-year-old Khia Whitehead was out riding an electric scooter with a friend. They were dressed in dark clothing and waiting on Garners Lane when the police cars sped by.
PC Blakey, an advanced driver, was allowed to break traffic rules to reach the emergency. But as Khia stepped into the road, he didn’t see the other police cars following closely behind.
Tragically, PC De Meulemeester’s car struck Khia, leaving him with severe injuries. He collapsed on the road, and it looked like he might not survive.
PC McDohl swerved to avoid a crash and ended up hitting a pole. He rushed to perform CPR on Khia, who thankfully survived but faced a long road to recovery.
Khia spent nine months in a vegetative state, needing constant care. His family, including his parents, were by his side the whole time. They received support from famous figures like Sir Alex Ferguson and Tyson Fury.
During the court case that followed, Khia’s friend expressed how devastated he was. He felt their plans for a holiday together were shattered. Khia was described as kind-hearted and genuine.
In 2023, PC De Meulemeester was sentenced to 30 months in prison for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She had been speeding and didn’t have her emergency lights on when she hit Khia.
After the incident, a disciplinary case against PC McDohl revealed the driving standards at GMP. Both he and De Meulemeester were speeding, but only she hit Khia.
Despite the trauma, PC McDohl was given a final warning instead of being fired. He had only been a cop for 17 months and had just passed his driving course before the crash.
His chief inspector praised him, saying many good officers make poor decisions while trying to do the right thing. McDohl plans to stay with GMP and rebuild his career.
Since that tragic night, GMP has made changes. They’ve increased the number of trained drivers and improved response times. But for Khia’s family, these changes offer little comfort.
Assistant Chief Constable Matthew Boyle expressed sympathy for the Whitehead family. He emphasized the importance of training and resources for officers responding to emergencies.
