GLASGOW police officers have come under fire for 'mishandling' an arrest.
A city sheriff believes a constable acted wrongfully during a callout by unjustifiably grabbing hold of a man.
Scott McCamlie, 25, did not want to speak to police following a boozy brawl outside his home. When he tried to go inside, one of the male PCs seized his arm.
The officer's action then set off a chain of events which led to McCamlie's arrest.
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At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Tony Kelly stated that the police "contributed" to the explosive situation.
It was around 9.35pm when police on mobile patrol were asked to attend an ongoing disturbance. On arrival, they found two men heavily under the influence of alcohol.
The accused had fresh injuries on his face and claimed that his blood on the landing was caused by a fall.
McCamlie was compliant at first, but then refused to give further details. He denied the police entry into his property, slamming the door on one of the constable’s arms.
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Sheriff Kelly highlighted that the constable who got his arm caught in the door must have grabbed McCamlie. He questioned why the accused was seized.
Sheriff Kelly stated that “they placed hands on him” despite McCamlie having the right to deny the officers entry as he was acting lawfully up to that point.
The Crown could not answer why the policeman took hold of the accused.
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The fiscal depute stated: “I’m simply narrating the facts from the report.”
The officers continued with their attempts to get inside, but were met with a negative result.
McCamlie branded them “f****** scummy b*******” and told them to “f*** off” when he was ordered to move back or else they would douse him with incapacitant spray.
The accused – who was sitting on the ground and pushing the door closed with his feet – was eventually restrained and removed from the flat. During his arrest, he attempted to punch one of the constables before the handcuffs went on.
The incident happened in Kennishead Avenue on April 6, 2018.
In defence, Mr McArdle explained that the area had a certain reputation – which the police would have known before going there.
He claimed that it was a drunken argument between two young men. His client did not want to talk to the police, but accepted that the officers would have been alarmed due to the blood and asked for entry into the property to confirm the situation.
However, Sheriff Kelly stated that it was the accused’s prerogative not to speak to the police.
He said: “Sounds as if the police contributed to it.”
Mr McArdle agreed, adding: “They dealt with it quite badly.”
Although blaming the police for initially putting their hands on the accused, Sheriff Kelly noted: “I think that you contributed something towards this by your reaction.”
McCamlie was fined £200 for repeatedly shouting, swearing, uttering offensive remarks, struggling and refusing to cooperate with the police.
For shutting the door on two constables’ bodies and attempting to punch a third PC, Sheriff Kelly admonished the accused.
Following the case, a Police Scotland spokesman said: "We note the outcome."
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