A police officer in Wolverhampton was forced to use a Taser twice on an aggressive man who charged at him wielding a kitchen knife. The incident took place outside a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) on Allen Road on June 7.
Shamal Baiz, 34, was arrested after officers responded to reports of a man carrying a blade. When confronted, Baiz ran directly toward the police officers, prompting one to deploy a Taser twice before he could be subdued and taken into custody.
During a hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on July 8, Baiz pleaded guilty to assaulting a police constable and possessing a knife in a public place. The court heard the officer involved was in genuine fear for his life during the encounter.
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In a victim personal statement read aloud in court, the officer described the incident: “The male was aggressive, running at me armed with a knife. I genuinely feared he was going to stab me or cause serious harm. His behavior made me deeply concerned for my and my colleagues' safety.”
The officer expressed the hope to perform his duties without fear of assault and condemned the attack as unacceptable. “I go to work intending to return home safe to my family. It is abhorrent that anyone believes assaulting a lawfully serving officer is appropriate.”
Baiz, who has no previous convictions, faces a custodial sentence. Magistrates granted a request for a pre-sentence report and released him on unconditional bail pending a further hearing scheduled for September 14.