Former police officer is acquitted of assault charge

A FORMER Tayside police officer who punched a suspect during a drugs arrest was acquitted of assault at A rbroath Sheriff Court yesterday.

Sheriff Gregor Murray judged that Dean Miller acted in self defence when he punched A nthony Davies inside a tent at Seaton Caravan Park in A rbroath in June 2010.

Giving evidence yesterday, Miller, 29, said he punched Davies because he was resisting arrest and lashing out with his arms and legs when he and two other officers went inside a small tent to arrest him.

He said that after the punch, Davies became compliant.

At a police brief ing before the incident Miller was told Davies was known to have a history of violence against police officers and could have access to weapons.

A n axe was later found underneath his sleeping bag.

Miller said: “The actions I took that day were unusual but it was a highly unusual set of circumstances.

The court had previously heard evidence earlier from Davies, a prisoner at Durham Prison, who claimed he had woken in the tent to a “barrage of blows”.

Miller said: “Davies has deliberately tried to mislead this court. He is not telling the truth.”

Mr Miller, who is no longer a police officer, declined to comment after the trial.