Four Leigh gang members were arrested late last night after confronting police with an air rifle and machetes – with one even pointing a gun to an officer’s face.
The quartet, aged between 19 and 47, were handcuffed on suspicion of affray, and the 19-year-old on suspicion of a firearm after threatening police officers at around 9.55pm last night, April 22.
The incident happened at a house on Maple Crescent after police were initially called to the property following reports of criminal damage.
One of the gang members pointed the gun at the face of the police officer, but he was subsequently subdued as the officer proceeded to taser and arrest him, leaving the man uninjured.
Detective Chief Inspector Michael Fraser explained the danger police officers have to put themselves in on a daily basis to keep citizens safe.
“What this incident shows is the dangers police officers face day in, day out, to protect the public,” he said.
“The officers initially responded to a report of criminal damage, only to be confronted by an armed gang with machetes and a gun. The gun was pointed directly in the face of the officer, and at that time it was impossible to know whether it was a genuine firearm or an air rifle.
“Faced with such intimidating and threatening circumstances, the officers acted appropriately by using a Taser and as a result, arrested all the members of the gang without injury to either themselves or anyone at the house.
DCI Fraser added: “I hope this incident both demonstrates to the people of Wigan the dangers that officers face every day when responding to what might seem like a straightforward call, and that officers are trained to safely deal with such violence when faced by armed gangs to protect the public.”
After the incident a home search was carried out by police, with them discovering an air gun, a pellet gun, over 170 pellets, a chrome bar and machetes, which have all been recovered for forensic analysis.
Anyone with information about the incident can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Image courtesy of Google Maps, with inset from hradcanska, with thanks
