Alarmed by blade in man’s waistband
Good Samaritan’s terror
A Good Samaritan went to the aid of a Perth man after hearing him shout he had been stabbed.
While another person contacted the ambulance service, Sharron Colburn went to investigate the disturbing alleged latenight city centre incident.
She found 23-year-old Michael Czekalla lying on the pavement in Victoria Street.
He again said he had been stabbed and thrust his hand through garden railings, gave her a mobile phone and told her to call someone.
She told that person where the accused was - and that help had been summoned.
She was “concerned for the safety” of Czekalla, Perth Sheriff Court was told.
But as she went to have a closer look, she could see no trace of blood - either on the accused, his clothing or the ground.
She “started to panic”, stated depute fiscal John Malpass, as that didn’t match up with his story.
She was then terrified to see a knife protruding from the waistband of his trousers.
“She challenged him and said: ‘You’ve not been stabbed.’
“He then pulled the blade from his waistband and, although he didn’t brandish it, she was alarmed because of his volatile and unpredictable behaviour.”
Czekalla threw the knife to the ground and admitted: “I’ve not been stabbed.”
He then ran off down the street, shouting: “That’s not my f***ing knife.”
He was later found “slumped” against a wall in Perth’s South Street but failed to engage with officers because of his intoxicated state.
He was arrested and taken to Perth police headquarters but became Sheriff Court Perth aggressive and tried to bite two different officers.
The weapon – a cheese knife with a four-inch long blade – was later recovered.
The accused, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, was remanded in custody until next month while background reports are prepared.
He admitted being in possession of the knife in Victoria Street on July 16 this year and frightening Ms Colburn by producing the blade from his clothing.
He also pled guilty to assaulting PCs Gavin McLeod and Mark Symons by attempting to bite them on the body and attempting to kick the first officer on the body.
Mr Malpass said the two local residents were alerted by shouts outside their home shortly before 11pm.
When the accused was taken to Police Scotland’s Barrack Street base, he became aggressive, was restrained on the ground and, because of his continuing behaviour, a so-called ‘spit hood’ was placed on his head.
Solicitor Paul Ralph said his client is currently serving an eight-month jail sentence, imposed on August 30.
He has reserved his plea in mitigation until November 8.
The accused has previous convictions for assault and attempted robbery involving a knife and was told by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis that custody was “almost inevitable”.
The sheriff also wants to consider whether the accused would be suitable for a supervised release order when he is eventually freed.
The weapon - a cheese knife - was recovered