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PUTNEY 'PUSHER' SUSPECT CLEARED

Millionaire banker arrested after jogger pushed in front of a bus on Putney Bridge is ELIMINATED from inquiry after he proved he was in USA at the time

American Eric Bellquist was arrested in relation to the incident after the shocking CCTV footage emerged

Eric Bellquist, 41, has been eliminated from the police inquiry

A MILLIONAIRE banker arrested over the "Putney Bridge Pusher" video has been eliminated from the police inquiry after he proved he was in the USA at the time.

American Eric Bellquist was detained after shocking footage showed a jogger pushing a woman into a bus on Putney Bridge.

Eric Bellquist, 41, has been eliminated from the police inquiry
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Eric Bellquist, 41, has been eliminated from the police inquiry after footage showed a jogger pushing a woman in front of a bus
The wealthy American banker denied the allegations and said he was out of the country at the time
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The wealthy American banker denied the allegations and said he was out of the country at the time

He was later released under investigation and cops today said the 41-year-old has been eliminated from their enquiries.

His lawyer yesterday issued a denial of the allegations against him, claiming he was out of the country at the time.

He said: "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."

Bellquist, who is a partner Mayfair based private equity firm Hutton Collins, was quizzed by detectives on suspicion of GBH on Thursday.

Eric Bellquist was arrested yesterday but police later released him under investigation as he protested his innocence
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Police later released Bellquist under investigation as he protested his innocence
Police are now appealing to track down the man to quiz him about the incident
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Police had appealed for information to track down the man to quiz him about the incident

Mr Bellquist studied at the University of Colorado Boulder and worked for Lehman Brothers before joining Hutton Collins Partners, which owns restaurant chains including Wagamana and Byron.

The Met Police say enquiries continue to identity the jogger who pushed the female pedestrian into the road.

A police spokesman said: "At about 7.40am on Friday, 5 May the 33-year-old victim was walking across Putney Bridge on the east side heading towards Putney Bridge Tube Station when a male jogger pushed her, knocking her over into the road and into the path of an oncoming bus, which narrowly missed hitting her."

The bus stopped and passengers tended to the woman following the incident at about 7.40am on May 5.

Cops said the jogger ran the other way across the bridge around 15 minutes later and the victim attempted to speak to him, but "he did not acknowledge her".

Proud colleagues praised the hero bus driver whose quick-thinking saved the woman shoved in the path of his double decker.

Co-workers said the driver's last-minute swerve "without a shadow of a doubt" saved the 33-year-old's life as she was pushed to the ground just inches from the bus.

Police officers have released CCTV footage showing a jogger appearing to shove the woman in front of the bus
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Police officers have released CCTV footage showing a jogger appearing to shove the woman in front of the bus
The woman is seen hurling towards the bus, which somehow manages to swerve into another lane to avoid striking her and causing serious injury
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The woman is seen hurtling towards the bus, which somehow manages to swerve into another lane to avoid striking her and causing serious injury
The jogger continued running along the bridge and did not stop to help the woman
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The jogger continued running along the bridge and did not stop to help the woman

The jogger is described as a white man, aged early to mid 30s, with brown eyes and short brown hair.

He was wearing a light grey t-shirt and dark blue shorts.

Officers are continuing to appeal 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.


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