Police have rearrested the ‘Putney Pusher’ suspect over allegations of drug offences.
Shocking CCTV footage from 2017 showed a jogger pushing a female pedestrian into the path of a double-decker bus on Putney Bridge. Following a near-decade-long search, the Metropolitan Police confirmed a man had been arrested in connection with the incident on Monday.
Once in police custody, the 44-year-old suspect was then rearrested on suspicion of possessing class A and class B drugs, the force has since confirmed. He was later released on bail pending further investigation.
A Met spokesperson said: “On Monday, 15 June, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm.
“The arrest relates to an incident on 5 May 2017, where a woman was pushed into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge in Putney.
“Once in police custody, he was also arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B drugs. He has since been bailed pending further investigation in relation to all offences.
“Enquiries continue.”
The initial incident took place during rush hour at around 7.40am in May 2017, with the jogger forcefully pushing the woman onto the road as he ran past.
Bus driver Oliver Salbris managed to swerve to avoid running her over, telling the Sunday Times: “If I hadn’t swerved, I would have smashed her head.
“It was reflex. The consequences would have been terrible for her – and for me.”
It was reported at the time that around 15 minutes after the push, the jogger came back the other way across the bridge and ignored the victim when she tried to speak to him.
Detectives involved in the case interviewed 50 men and arrested three suspects at the time, including an American investment banker who was in the US when the incident took place.
However, nobody was ever charged and the case was closed in 2018.
