Man shut himself in flat during siege
Cops get him out after seven-hour standoff
A man barricaded himself in his dad’s Hamilton home during a siege that lasted over seven hours.
More than 30 police officers, including trained negotiators, were called to the scene amid fears that Christopher Haig was going to set fire to the upstairs flat.
The 38-year-old armed himself with knives and made repeated threats to kill officers before surrendering and claiming to have had a “breakdown”.
Haig, of Lindum Street, Motherwell, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday, where he admitted charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and police assault arising from the siege in Stonehall Avenue, Hamilton, on January 11 last year.
The incident happened the day before his 37th birthday.
Apart from the police officers, paramedics and firefighters were also deployed to the incident.
Sheriff Ray Small said: “This would have cost the public purse a fortune.” An allegation that Haig sparked the trouble by assaulting his dad was dropped. Abby Seal, prosecuting, said that Haig senior alerted the police around 6pm and it was after midnight before his son finally gave himself up.
When officers arrived, Christopher Haig was topless and he became “extremely aggressive”, telling them to leave and threatening to kill them.
He warned that he would be coming out of the flat “in a body bag”.
Haig used a sofa and a chair to barricade the door and at one point went on to a window ledge and threatened to jump.
His dad had taken refuge at a neighbour’s house by this stage.
Haig refused to engage with police negotiators and continued to shout threats and abuse.
Neighbours gathered at doors and windows to watch the drama.
Concerns grew when he was seen holding a lighter and eventually police officers with riot shields gained entry to the flat.
Ms Seal told the court: “Haig armed himself with two knives and threatened to stab the officers.
“He threw the knives but these hit a shield.
“He picked up another two knives and threw them, again striking the shields.
“He also threw a vase and this also hit the shields.
“Eventually he surrendered and was taken to Stewart Street police station in Glasgow where he told officers: ‘I had a breakdown. I’m sorry’.” Defence agent Kevin Corr said Haig had been affected by a serious assault on him and his brother some years ago.
The solicitor added: “He is in a stable relationship and has no outstanding matters.
“Clearly this is a serious matter and that is not lost on him.”
Sheriff Small deferred sentence until next month and continued Haig’s bail, but warned him: “Custody is an option.”