Moment fearless police officer launches himself from bike to take down fleeing crack cocaine dealer with flying rugby tackle

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:58, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 15:58, 5 August 2026 This is the moment a fearless police officer launched himself off a bike into a flying rugby tackle to bring down a fleeing drug dealer in a dramatic park chase. Junior Lavin, 19, was spotted dealing crack cocaine in Albert Park in Middlesbrough by a police drone on February 16. He was in the middle of a brazen broad-daylight sale at around 2pm when officers sprang into action. Footage show Lavin lounging on an electric motorbike rifling through a collection of packages with two people huddled around him. One officer charges in and attempts to get Lavin in a headlock, but he slips away.  The drug dealer loses a shoe but continues his escape bid across the park - before it is emphatically cut short by an officer on a bike. The officer lunges forward off his saddle and snags Lavin, bringing him down next to a bush and securing the arrest. Lavin was then searched and officers seized 30 wraps of crack cocaine. A crack cocaine dealer at first gave officers the slip when they spotted him shifting drugs in Albert Park, Middlesbrough Gavin takes to his heels (left) but a determined officer on a push bike refuses to give up the chase (right) Gavin, who has lost a show in the drama, realises there is nowhere to run as the cycling cop is hot on his heels The heroic police officer launches himself forward from his bike to tackle the fleeing drug pusher The tackle sends Gavin and the office crashing to the floor before the arrest is completed Junior Lavin, 19, was found with 30 wraps of crack cocaine on him and convicted of possession with intent to supply Cleveland police also seized an electric bike that Lavin had been using A subsequent search of an address led to the recovery of a second electric bike.  Lavin was later convicted of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession of criminal property and driving without a licence or insurance. On Monday, Lavin, of Middlesbrough, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Teesside Crown Court. Sergeant John Sproson, of Cleveland Police, said: 'We will use all tools available to us in the fight against class A drugs in Middlesbrough. 'Utilising the drone and other tactics, we will continue to remove class A drugs from the streets of Middlesbrough and seize any illegal bikes which assist dealers in carrying out this criminality.'