I'm not 'Putney pusher', I was in the US, says banker

Eric Bellquist says he was in the US at the time - and was released without charge
Eric Bellquist says he was in the US at the time - and was released without charge Credit: Facebook - Met Police

The man arrested over the incident at Putney Bridge, where a jogger pushed a woman into incoming traffic, has been named as a partner at a Mayfair equity firm.

Eric Bellquist, 50, was detained by police on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after the woman was narrowly missed by an oncoming bus.

Mr Bellquist has denied being the jogger through his lawyer and says he was in the United States during the incident.

He was arrested at an address in Chelsea and later released without being charged.

Mr Bellquist works at Hutton Collins Partners, which owns restaurant chains Wagamama and Byron.

Eric Bellquist's profile on the website of his place of work

His lawyers, Duncan Lewis solicitors, said: “This statement is issued in relation to our client Mr Eric Bellquist, who was arrested yesterday in relation to an incident that took place between a male jogger and a female pedestrian on May 5, 2017, on Putney Bridge.



A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police investigating an assault after a jogger appeared to push a woman into the path of an oncoming bus in Putney have made an arrest.


"He was taken to a south London police station for questioning. He has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.”

Putney Bridge Credit: RUSSELL CHEYNE/ The Telegraph

The arrest of Mr Bellquist follows a public appeal to help find the man, with Scotland Yard releasing footage this week in a bid to identify the jogger.

The incident, which occurred on 5 May, shows the 33-year-old victim walking across Putney Bridge when a male jogger knocks her over into the road and into the path of an oncoming bus, which narrowly missed hitting her.



Officers continue to appeal for any witnesses to the incident.