Man arrested after police ‘siege’ lockdown drama

36-year-old man removed from flat after 10-hour stand off and charged

A man was arrested and charged last night after a 10-hour stand off with police in Arbroath yesterday.

During the incident the man climbed on to the roof of the building and could be seen shouting at emergency service workers below.

The incident began at around 10am. Riot police, negotiators, ambulance and fire service staff were still stationed round the red stone building, next to the Marketgate car park in Arbroath town centre, until shortly before 9pm.

Trained negotiators eventually talked the 36-year-old man out of the room before he was arrested and charged.

A second man was taken from the building shortly after 4.30pm.

Three dogs – two Staffordshire bull terriers and a bulldog – were also removed.

One onlooker, who said he had spoken to the man inside earlier that day, said: “He’s my friend. I’m leaving him alone now.”

Neighbours said a car had been set on fire in a garden outside the building in July this year.

Police put the town centre car park in lockdown earlier in the day but allowed people to leave as the incident went on into the evening.

Neighbours said they were frightened by the ongoing drama so close to their homes.

One woman said: “I have children in the house. It is making me feel nervous and my legs are shaking.”

Many watched nervously from their windows throughout the day as police riot vans, two fire engines, a police dog unit and an ambulance were stationed in the Marketgate car park.

A large number of police officers could be seen coming and going from the nearby Salvation Army building.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At the end of the siege a 36-year-old man was taken out of the building and arrested and charged.

“Nobody was injured. The incident was contained and there was no risk to the wider public.”

A neighbour said: “It is making me feel a bit nervous, especially with the police dogs and the riot squad.”

A third resident said she had returned home from college to be surprised by the heavy police presence outside her bedroom window.

She said: “I got such a shock when I saw the riot vans outside the windows. I don’t know what is going on. Nobody has told us anything.”

Picture: Paul Reid. Negotiators talk to the man through the roof skylight during last night’s incident.

Picture: Paul Reid. Riot officers with other emergency workers at the scene.