Sacked cop chases down alleged shoplifter and makes heroic citizen's arrest
This is the moment sacked police officer Lorne Castle makes a citizen's arrest of a suspected shoplifter. Mr Castle's police officer instincts kicked in when he encountered a youth allegedly fleeing a Nike store with stolen goods.
The 46-year-old, who was controversially dismissed last month for his aggressive arrest of a knife-carrying teen, didn't think twice about putting himself in harm's way again. He physically restrained the suspect and held him on the floor for 15 minutes until former police colleagues arrived to arrest him. The manager of the Nike store later praised Mr Castle who had been 'extremely pleasant and courteous' to the youth he had stopped.
The incident took place last night (Thurs) at the Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth, Dorset. It happened on the same day it was confirmed that Mr Castle would be appealing the decision taken by Dorset Police to sack him for gross misconduct.
Mr Castle was found to have used disproportionate force during the arrest of the 15-year-old boy in Bournemouth in January 2024. He put his hand in the teen's face and jabbed his finger at him.
Mr Castle, who won a national lifesaving award for saving an elderly lady from a flood in 2023, also failed to show the youth 'courtesy and respect' by calling him a 'b*tch' and threatening to 'smash him in'.
The father-of-three has had lots of public support since the misconduct hearing went against him. A GoFundMe campaign to support him and his family has raised over £120,000.
Norman Brennan, a retired police officer who was with Mr Castle before last night's incident, said: 'It was a citizen's arrest because that is what he is now. The suspect was detained until the police turned up and arrested him.
'That's the sort of police officer the public want.' He pointedly added: 'It's a good thing he showed the suspect courtesy and respect.'
Retired police inspector Chris Amey, who worked with Mr Castle, said: 'Come on Lorne Castle. You really are making them (Dorset Police) look bad.
'We're delighted to say that Lorne was extremely pleasant and courteous to the man concerned and actually very apologetic for detaining him.
'Juliano the store manager was extremely happy that Lorne was able to assist in the absence of any security or police officers.'
Members of the public took to social media to praise Mr Castle for his citizen's arrest. Phil Lee: 'You couldn't make this up. Well done Lorne, you have the backing of tens of thousands who can clearly see where your dedication and devotion lie, unlike your previous employers.'
Peter Burnell said: 'Wouldn't it be great if Lorne was to be awarded a good citizen medal for this and the Chief Constable did the presentation!'
Marissa Bradbury added: 'Once a good officer always a good officer. They made a big mistake.' Speaking about the impact that the dismissal has had on him, Mr Castle said: 'Dorset Police could have absolutely destroyed me and broken me.
'It was a very dark place and a sad moment in time, but my story seems to have touched the nation. I was sacked, left with no job, a family to look after and no job prospects.
'I want my name cleared. I feel that I have been treated really unfairly. I have been an exemplary officer for over 10 years.'
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