Footballer demands apology after cops stop car at gunpoint
A young Paisley footballer has demanded an apology from Police Scotland after being held at gunpoint by armed cops.
Thomas Collins, Josh McArthur, Lyle McLaughlin and one other were travelling in a car on Neilston Road when they were pulled over by police officers on Friday evening.
But within minutes the group was surrounded by officers pointing guns at them.
They were told they were being detained under the Firearms Act.
Thomas said he has suffered nightmares since the incident and has called on the force to apologise for its actions after they were all released without charge.
The East Fife player said: “I have never had experience with any kind of guns.
“I have never even seen one before so to have one pointed at me that was my first experience of that. It was scary at the time and now, I’ve had some crazy dreams about it. It was traumatising but has been exacerbated by some of the officers’ behaviour.
“Th e o f f i c e r w h o conducted the search said if we thought we should get an apology we should ‘grow up’.
“We are four normal guys, none of us have struggled with mental health issues but if this had happened to people who did, it might have ended very badly. There was a real lack of humanity for people who had been put through such a traumatising experience.”
The police watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, said the actions of the police were “proportionate” and no investigation was necessary.
Police Scotland confirmed the incident came as part of a wider operation which saw another car stopped in a similar police swoop in Glasgow an hour earlier.
The force, who say they were acting on intelligence, stopped a black Mazda 6 on Sauchiehall Street in the city centre at 6.10pm.
A search of the vehicle revealed a gun and ammunition.
A 55- year- old man was arrested and charged under the Firearms Act.
The arrest is believed to have been close to where the men had been visiting a pal.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “During an intelligence-led operation in Glasgow around 7.10pm on Friday, August 21, a VW Golf was stopped by armed officers in Neilston Road, Paisley.
“This was a targeted stop by police as part of ongoing inquiries.
“As part of the same investigation, at around 6.30pm, officers stopped and searched a black Mazda 6 car on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, and recovered a firearm and ammunition.
“A 55-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the find and was due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, August 24. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
“Anyone who has concerns regarding police conduct is encouraged to contact police.”
The police watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, said the actions of the police were “proportionate” and no investigation was necessary.