Wagamama Director Denies Being Putney Bridge Jogger
Eric Bellquist says he can prove he was overseas when woman was pushed under a bus
The man arrested in connection with the investigation into the incident in which a woman was pushed in front of a bus on Putney Bridge says he is able to prove he was out of the country at the time.
41-year-old Eric Bellquist, who works for a private equity firm and sits on the boards of the Wagamama and Byron Hamburger restaurant chains, was arrested by detectives at his Chelsea home this Thursday (10 August) and questioned at a South London police station but later released without charge with no bail being required. He told police that he was able to provide documentary evidence to show that he was in the US when the attack occurred on 5 May this year.
Eric Bellquist
The former employee of Lehman Brothers currently works for Hutton Collins Partners which is based in Mayfair.
His lawyer issued a statement reads, "This statement is issued in relation to our client Mr Eric Bellquist, who was arrested yesterday in relation to an assault that took place between a male jogger and a female pedestrian on the 5th May 2017 on Putney Bridge, London.
"Our client has been wrongly implicated in this matter; he categorically denies being the individual concerned and has irrefutable proof that he was in the United States at the time of the incident.
"Consequently we expect a swift resolution to this wholly untrue allegation."
He had been held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm in connection with an assault on the female pedestrian, who is believed to come from Putney, which was captured on CCTV. The footage shows her falling in front of a bus which comes to a stop just in time. The police say the man has been released pending further enquiries.
Officers previously issued CCTV of the incident and received a good response from the appeal. We have been asked to remove the footage and CCTV stills showing the suspect from our web site by the police in order not to potentially prejudice any court proceedings.
At about 7.40am on Friday, 5 May the 33-year-old victim was walking across Putney Bridge on the east side heading in the direction of Fulham towards Putney Bridge Tube Station when a male jogger knocked her over into the road and into the path of an oncoming bus, which narrowly missed hitting her.
The bus stopped and some passengers got off and rushed to the victim's aid. She received minor injuries from the incident.
About 15 minutes later the jogger came back the other way across the bridge. The victim tried to speak to him but he did not acknowledge her and carried on jogging.
Officers are still appealing for any witnesses to the incident or anyone who recognises the jogger in the CCTV to get in touch. Anyone with information or any witnesses are asked to call Putney Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8785 8874 or 101 or tweet @MetCC.
Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
August 11, 2017