Man staged two armed stand-offs with cops to make health plea
A man desperate for medical assistance staged two armed stand-offs with police in a cry for help.
Gareth Evans, 46, had pleaded for attention from health experts after services in the community were slashed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In desperation, he armed himself with a hammer and a knife and started making threats in Paisley town centre in an attempt to raise awareness of his plight.
This prompted a tense confrontation with cops, where an officer was forced to point a Taser at Mr Evans to subdue him.
He told cops: “I am sorry for getting you involved.
“If people were doing their jobs then this wouldn’t have happened.”
Evans said the lack of support was: “No way to treat a human being.”
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Evans, from Foxbar in Paisley, had called community psychiatric services and NHS 24 for help on July 28 last year, but was unable to get a satisfactory response.
Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald said covid restrictions on community health services “had a negative impact on his mental health.”
He added: “He had a knife and hammer in his possession and boarded a bus for Paisley town centre.
“He then found a public phone box and dialled 999 He then told the operator he was in possession of the hammer and knife.
“He was seen on public CCTV and police on mobile patrol traced him at Smithhills Street, still in possession of the hammer and knife.
“He started banging on street furniture.
“An officer pointed a Taser at him and told him to drop the hammer and knife.
“He refused. However, he came to a rest in front of railings in County Square, where he dropped the weapons and police safely apprehended him.”
The court heard Evans again contacted police on September 22 last year and made other claims that he was going to “smash things up.”
Cops raced to Dunn Square, in Paisley, where they saw him in possession of a knife.
The fiscal added: “Mr Evans ran towards officers with a black- handled kitchen knife in his hand.
“An officer drew his Taser and discharged it, striking him on the back and legs.
“This caused his muscular incapacitation. He was arrested.
“He said, ‘Why didn’t you just shoot me?’”
Evans was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital by cops for medical assessment.
He appeared at court last week and pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a hammer and a knife in a public place.
He also admitted brandishing a knife at officers, challenging them to shoot him and public disorder.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew released him on bail to make time for background reports and a restriction of liberty assessment.
He will discover his fate when he appears for sentencing on May 14.
If people were doing their jobs then this wouldn’t have happened