A court has heard how a Brechin man had to be brought under control with CS spray after a “very serious incident” outside a town pub.
Dean Duggan was among a group of people who surrounded two police officers in the town’s High Street at around 1am in a situation which a sheriff said could easily have escalated out of control.
Duggan, 27, of Nursery Park, Brechin, will be sentenced next month after admitting charges of resisting arrest and police assault in Brechin on January 12 when he appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy said Duggan’s female companion was being arrested by police for her behaviour outside the Old Bolag bar when the accused and others began to surround the officers.
Duggan then grabbed the woman in a bear hug to prevent her being fully handcuffed and then tried to headbutt one of the policemen.
The fiscal said that as well as a large crowd of onlookers, cars were stopping in the town centre and the officers were forced to call for back-up as they became more concerned about the developing situation.
“Three members of the group began to push and pull the officers,” added Mrs Kennedy. “Once they managed to create a bit of space their attention moved back to the accused.”
Duggan told one officer: “I’ll break your jaw” when he was told to calm down.
“That was followed by him taking up a fighting stance similar to a boxer, accompanied by headbutting motions,” the fiscal continued.
One of the officers opened his CS holster and warned Duggan he would be sprayed but the accused’s response was to run at him and attempt to butt him.
“When he then swung a punch at the officer he was sprayed with two short bursts which immediately incapacitated him,” said the fiscal.
Sheriff Kevin Veal deferred sentence until April 17 for reports to be obtained and granted Duggan bail.