Armed man’s stand-off with police

Aug 10 2010 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

A HALF-NAKED knifeman went berserk in a Paisley street and threatened to stab anyone who came near him.

During an hour-long stand-off he kept cops at bay and stopped officers trying to disarm him.

He was seen lashing out at police cars and the door of a house, terrifying those inside.

At one stage the ex-Army man, wearing only his shorts, threatened to stab himself.

Officers with the armed response unit were called to the frightening early morning scene in the town’s Barrhead Road.

But before they arrived a 45-year-old senior cop bravely disarmed the maniac and, with help of colleagues, arrested him.

The crazy man was handcuffed and taken to Mill Street Police Office in Paisley and later to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for a check-up.

The nightmare drama erupted around 4.15am on Sunday.

Police were alerted after residents told police that a bare-chested man, armed with a machete-type blade, was stabbing the front door of a house.

One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “This man was only wearing his shorts and was using a large knife on a house door.

“He was making noises and was very frightening.

“Police were all over the street and as they arrived the man was stabbing at the vehicles and threatening the officers.

“One senior officer approached him and tried to persuade him to put the knife down. But he didn’t and kept lashing out with it.

“After about 45 minutes the policeman grabbed him and managed to get the blade off him.

“Suddenly it was all over, which was a tremendous relief.”

Later police confirmed there had been an incident in the Barrhead Road area at the weekend.

“Armed officers were called in but the incident was resolved before the unit arrived.

“The man involved lives in the Barrhead Road area and is now in custody.

“A street was closed off for a spell during the incident. No-one was hurt.

“It’s expected a man will appear soon at Paisley Sheriff Court in connection with the incident.