A MAN has been charged with trying to rob a bookmaker’s shop in Dundee.
Police were called following an incident at the Ladbrokes premises at the northern end of Strathmartine Road.
Eyewitnesses spoke of seeing a “large” police presence in the area as the incident unfolded.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland Tayside Division said: “We can confirm that a 41-year-old man has been charged in connection with an incident at Strathmartine Road, Dundee.
“A report was sent to the procurator fiscal.”
The Tele can reveal a man has now appeared in private before a sheriff at Dundee accused of a string of offences.
James Gorrie is accused of attempted robbery and also of assaulting a taxi driver.
The 41-year-old is further charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause fear or alarm.
He is also accused of being in possession of an offensive weapon during the incident.
The Dundee man is also accused of resisting, obstructing or hindering police officers while carrying out their duty.
Prosecutors say that the suspect also had a controlled drug in his possession.
Gorrie made no plea or declaration to the charges against him.
He has been remanded in custody and the case has been continued for further examination.
A date for his next court appearance has not been set.
A spokeswoman for Ladbrokes said the company was unable to comment on the matter.
People in the vicinity at the time of the incident have told of police units flooding the area.
One man said: “The police were outside on the street for a while.
“There were two police vans and three cars just after 8pm.”
A woman, who did not want to be named, said: “A lot of police were in the area at about 8pm.
“The officers arrived really quickly and were then away from the street pretty sharp.”
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