Sgt. Ian MacArthur was a police officer who appeared whenever the police were required in Beckindale in the 80s and early 90s.
Biography[]
In January 1981, MacArthur informed Richard Anstey and Joe Sugden that they had arrested Tom Merrick and Derek Warner for stealing trees from Home Farm last month. He arrested Jack Sugden in March 1981 after Tom framed him for arson, but Jack was released as he had an alibi. MacArthur also caught the Beckindale burglar in April 1981, who had burgled multiple houses in Beckindale.
In November 1982, MacArthur questioned Jackie and Sandie Merrick over the torching of an NY Estates caravan. He ended up arresting Jackie.
In April 1983, MacArthur was called to Emmerdale Farm when a brutal fight broke out between Jack Sugden and a group of rustlers. During the fight, Jack whacked one of the rustlers in the head with a rock, knocking him unconscious. He then visited Matt Skilbeck in December 1983, telling him that Harry Mowlam has made a formal complaint against him about Matt taking Mowlam's dog. Matt told MacArthur that he was not going to give Mowlam's dog back.
MacArthur visited Mowlam in January 1984 when Mowlam tried to mow down Jackie Merrick. He told Mowlam that he might overlook the charges if Mowlam drops the case against Matt. He also hinted that he knew of dodgy dealings done by Mowlam, and Mowlam backs down and drops the case against Matt. He investigated the shooting of Caroline Bates's dog in May 1984, and Caroline was determined to take Jackie to court. However, Alan Turner managed to put things right and got Caroline to drop the case. Later that year, MacArthur arrested Amos Brearly when they were caught selling alcohol twenty minutes outside of licensing hours.
In April 1985, MacArthur investigated what caused the accident between Alan and Jackie, when Alan accidentally knocked Jackie off his motorbike. MacArthur concluded that it was an unintentional accident and made no arrests. MacArthur investigated an armed robbery on a security van in October 1985, witnessed by Sandie Merrick. Sandie was unable to identify the men but MacArthur thought he knew who might be the culprit.
MacArthur investigated the death of Harry Mowlam in January 1986. Matt told the police that he might have killed Harry as he accidentally pushed Harry down a bank during a fight the day before. MacArthur arrested Matt and later charged him, but Matt was released on bail pending further investigation. Matt then found evidence which cleared him of Mowlam's murder - Harry's body had moved further downstream from where the fight took place, and Matt wouldn't have been strong enough to move Mowlam. MacArthur caught Keith Johnson and Derek Warner with the money from the security van and arrested Keith on the scene. Derek got away as he was armed, and Derek took Donald Hinton hostage inside the vicarage. With the building surrounded by armed police, Derek knew he couldn't escape and gave himself up. Ian MacArthur visited Emmerdale Farm in August 1986 and brought Jack some sad news - his wife Pat had died in a car accident.
MacArthur was a part of the search time who looked for Jackie when he went missing in March 1987. He then investigated potential dodgy antique dealings, reported by Sandie. MacArthur was stationed at Pencross Fell due to the violent protests by the villagers. During one of the protests, MacArthur arrested Jackie and Kathy Bates. He also investigated the death of Mr Metcalfe when he was found dead in Crossgil Farm in November 1987. It was revealed to be natural causes.
In late January 1988. MacArthur showed his humourous side when he played a prank on Jackie. MacArthur pretended that Jack and Matt had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly. MacArthur said another police officer would be along in a minute. It was only Joe Sugden. Jackie laughed. In March 1988, MacArthur arrested Alan Turner for speeding and drink driving. Turner was trying to impress a business client at the time. The client was put off by Turner's behaviour, and his flippant attitude to being charged.
In October 1992, MacArthur arrested Michael Feldmann for his part in the Home Farm robbery.
MacArthur investigated a theft in August 1993. He retired two months later and was replaced by PC Mitchum. He was still around in the village by December 1993 when he announced he was moving to New Zealand to be with his sister.
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