A man has been charged with trying to slash two police officers with a knife following a swoop on a Travellers’ camp in Dundee.
Officers went to land near the former Texol Technical Solutions factory at Myrekirk Road in Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate following reports of “intruders” in a yard near the derelict building.
It’s alleged that Martin McGroary, 19, of Old Dalkeith Colliery Travelling persons’ site near Edinburgh, then assaulted the two officers.
He is also accused of making violent threats and having the intention to commit theft from the nearby NCR factory.
After being arrested and charged, McGroary appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court in connection with Saturday’s incident.
Solicitor Stuart Hamilton said McGroary was pleading not guilty to four charges and moved for bail, which was not opposed by the Crown.
McGroary denies that he assaulted PCs Dale Evans and Craig Knight by throwing an unknown liquid at them, brandishing a Stanley blade or similar at them and attempting to strike them on the head and body with it at the Travellers’ camp at Texol Technical Solutions in Myrekirk Road.
He also denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm and shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence at the same place on the same date.
It is further alleged that McGroary was found in the curtilage of NCR Financial Solutions Ltd at EMC Building, Kingsway West, in circumstances where it could be reasonably inferred that he intended to commit theft.
Sheriff Simon Collins granted bail and trial was fixed for March 1 with an intermediate diet on February 8.
At least four police vehicles were spotted at the scene on Saturday, while some windows at the factory appeared to have been smashed — although it’s not known if that was connected to the same incident.
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland attended Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate around 1.30pm on Saturday in response to a report of intruders in a yard.
“A 19-year-old man was subsequently traced and arrested and appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court.”
The Texol factory, where electronics and metal fabrication work was carried out, closed in 2009 with the loss of more than 60 jobs after the firm went into administration.
The firm had been a supplier to cash machine manufacturer NCR.
Efforts by administrators to find a buyer for the company failed.
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