A POLICEMAN had to fire warning shots in the air as a man tried to grab a rifle from him while he was on duty and tried to flee, a court heard.
The 31-year-old Bahraini defendant was reportedly high after sniffing a cleaning product when he wrestled with the guard and tried to steal his weapon outside a palace in Riffa on December 14 last year, according to court documents.
However, he was overpowered and arrested.
He appeared at the High Criminal Court for the first hearing yesterday and denied charges of attempting to steal a weapon, assaulting a policeman and resisting arrest.
He earlier told prosecutors he panicked and tried to flee when a policeman approached him because he was high after sniffing a cleaning product called Stop.
“On December 14, 2019 I was in East Riffa and was on my way to a mosque to pray,” he said in his statement to prosecutors.
“I decided to take a road with less traffic and this led me to a sandy area in West Riffa.
“While I was walking I heard someone call me. I paid no attention but a police patrol picked me up and took me to a checkpoint.
“I was told that I had entered a restricted area.
“I saw a policeman holding a firearm and I panicked and decided to run.
“I attempted to flee on foot and did not hit the policeman or attempt to take his weapon.
“I heard shots being fired before I was cornered in a military area and arrested.
“I was not sober and had sniffed two cans of Stop.”
A policeman described how he held firm to his rifle which the defendant was trying to snatch.
“On the day of the incident on December 14 at 4.30pm I was on duty at a checkpoint near a palace in Riffa,” the 30-year-old policeman said in his statement to prosecutors.
“I had my weapon with me and was with colleagues.
“We saw a man walking near the palace and I called him.
“However, he ignored me and continued walking towards the palace.
“My supervisor then approached him and brought him to us.
“He (the defendant) looked in an abnormal state; he was holding a plastic bag which contained Stop and a water bottle.
“He was very angry and we tried to calm him down and ask him for his ID.
Warning
“He pretended to take out his ID before he tried to grab my weapon.
“I was holding it tightly; he continued trying to grab it before he tore my uniform and scratched my chest.
“He then attempted to flee on foot and I fired two warning shots in the air before he was arrested.”
The trial has been adjourned until next Wednesday for review.
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