A man used an insect spray can to project a stream of flames at police officers who arrived to arrest him after he threatened to kill his brother, a court heard.
The unemployed 45-year-old Bahraini was sentenced to a year in prison by the High Criminal Court for assaulting two on-duty policemen in an attempt to obstruct them from carrying out their job.
The incident unfolded after the man allegedly terrorised his brother with a chainsaw and threatened to set their house ablaze, prompting the frightened sibling to call the police.
When the officers arrived at the residence, the brother led them to the defendant’s room.
They knocked on the door, but the defendant refused to open it.
“We called for a back-up patrol, and assistance from the Civil Defence,” an officer told the Public Prosecution.
“A Civil Defence officer opened the door, and the defendant was standing behind it.
“We were confronted by a stream of flames directed at us from an aerosol can of insecticide, which the accused ignited using a lighter.”
“The Civil Defence put out the fire with a water hose after which we arrested the suspect.”
The Bahraini man admitted possessing an insect spray can and a plastic lighter but denied assault charges, claiming he had been intoxicated and had no memory of the incident.
“There was a fight between me and my brother, and I threw his belongings out of the house,” the Bahraini testified.
“He called the police and I was arrested, but he later came to the police station and withdrew the complaint, and I was released from remand,” he claimed.
“Later, I was informed that I had resisted arrest, but I don’t remember anything because I was not in possession of my senses. If I had been conscious, I wouldn’t have done it.”
However, police reports contradicted his account, stating that the suspect had threatened his brother with a sharp tool – a chainsaw – and damaged security cameras at the house.
Court documents stated that he threatened to beat and kill his brother, burn down the house and raised a knife at him, which led him to lodge his report.
The court found the man guilty of attempting to assault police officers, but failing to cause harm due to circumstances beyond his control.
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