Police interviewing Tunbridge Wells stand-off arrest man
Police are interviewing a man they arrested yesterday after an 18-hour stand-off in Tunbridge Wells.
Officers armed with tasers smashed their way into the flat in Crescent Road at 5.30pm last night and arrested a man who had barricaded himself inside.
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Tunbridge Wells commander Chief Insp Martin Wilson said today: "I am
very satisified that this incident was concluded without any injuries
and minimum disruption to the town centre.
"He is still in custody and we will be working with mental health services to carry out an assessment throughout the day."
The early evening drama brought to an end an incident that began at 11.30pm on Monday.
Police were called when a member of the public reported a disturbance at the flat above antique shop TJ Twiddy on Crescent Road.
Armed police arrived a couple of hours later after furniture was thrown onto the street.
Neighbours also reported the smell of burning coming from the flat.
A dozen armed officers and a team of police negotiators spent all day at the scene.
Some nearby residents were moved out of their homes as a precaution.
Members of the man's family were also brought to the scene in a bid to persuade him to give himself up.
But eventually police decided the situation could not be allowed to continue and went in shortly after 5.30pm.
After throwing items onto the street which he had used to barricade himself inside, loud firecracker-type devices were used to disorientate the man and he was brought out safely.
See Friday's Courier for full story, reaction and pictures.
89 Comments
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by relation, twell
Saturday, March 13 2010, 10:29AM
“family would like to say big thank you for kind comments.”
by Rick, Tunbridge Wells
Saturday, March 13 2010, 8:53AM
“How about another national database to determine how each and every individual would deal with this type of situation? Maybe all the anonymous hand-wringers that are so unhappy with the way things are dealt with would then concentrate on their own lives instead of others. So what if the emergency services took 18 hours to end the "siege", the important thing is the gentleman removed from the scene is safe and in the process of getting the help he desperately needs. Yes, I got caught up in the traffic on Monday morning and it was a little inconvenient, a small price to pay if it means a mother/father/brother etc has been saved from organising a funeral for a family member. Mental illness can happen to anyone at any time, and if I ever become unwell like the gentleman on Monday I would choose the common sense used by the emergency services over your gung-ho views without a second thought. Finally, if any of the gentleman's family are reading this I wish him a speedy recovery.”
by Mark, TW
Thursday, March 11 2010, 3:57PM
“I do hope the Newspaper don't dedicate pages and pages to this story. I think some decency and restraint is required when reporting on people regards mental health. The family will obviously have been through enough without the intrusion of the press never mind the thoughtless opinions of some on this post.”
by Barry, T.Wells
Thursday, March 11 2010, 2:39PM
“Please can the administrator of this website remove all these comments, I agree that this is just abusing the online service. If you have nothing constructive to say then don't say it. I am amazed sometimes at the comments on this website, we had the same issues with the fight in High Brooms outside the working men¿s club and it was just constant rubbish filling up the comments section.
PLEASE remove this and review how you add these comments in future maybe review them before they can be posted?”
by Legal Eagle, England
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:55AM
“Well said A resident, TW , at last someone on here with sense.”