Moment officer tasers armed thug who told him 'get back in your car and drive away'

Terrifying video shows the moment an armed and dangerous thug told a police officer ‘get back in your car and drive away’, while waving around a large kitchen knife.

Officer Anthony Spence was first on the scene after reports of an armed robbery early in the morning on Tuesday, October 29. A 26-year-old man, wearing a pink hoodie with horns, pink tracksuit bottoms, and a pink face covering, entered a shop and demanded cigarettes, but fled after police were called.

After conducting an area search, officer Spence found the man and ordered him to get on the ground. The man then threatened the officer, continuing to walk towards him despite instructions and responding “get back in your car and drive away.”

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The officer then repeatedly warned him before deploying his taser and calling for backup. The man then runs off and accuses the officer of “bringing a gun to a sword fight” before banging on the door of a neighbouring home and announcing his name.

The pair then get in to a scuffle, with officer Spence using his baton to disarm the man and to make an arrest. The man has been sectioned in hospital under the Mental Health Act on suspicion of robbery, threats to kills, and possession of a bladed article.

PC Spence has been given a bravery award by Greater Manchester Police chief constable Stephen Watson for his role subduing the man duiring the incident in Oldham.

The officer’s inspector said: “PC Anthony Spence embodies what we want our officers to be; brave and bold, upholding the values we agreed when we take on the job. On that morning there was a real serious risk to life, not only his but members of the public, due to the unpredictable nature of the person holding the knife.

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“In this one incident, we’ve managed to make Oldham a safer place and means we can conduct an effective investigation to ensure one less knife is off the street. Across Greater Manchester our officer’s day-in and day-out serve to protect the public in the best way they can and that often means putting themselves in harm’s way as the first line of defence.”

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