A police armed response unit was called to Pontlottyn last night after reports of a man threatening a group of teenagers with an air rifle.
Gwent Police said it was called at around 7.34pm on Monday, March 20, to an address in Merchant Street and arrested a 59-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a firearm.
He is currently in police custody.
A video has emerged on Facebook which shows the moment police made the arrest and officers can be heard shouting: “Get on the floor”. The footage then shows the suspect emerging from the building with his hands on his head.
Eyewitnesses on Facebook claim a man had threatened a group of teenagers after they had verbally abused him in the street.
No-one was injured during the incident.
What has happened to the Rhymney Valley? No law no order. It’s like something from a Hollywood film. Questions need to be asked what has happened to the police in this valley, under Labour police station have closed. And we have fewer police on our streets when we seem to be paying more towards policing. I remember that when Ian Johnson was crime commissioner he promised more stations would remain open. In my own town of Caerphilly our town has seen the police station close 2 in 7 years. Questions need to be asked about our current police situation in the valley. In my day every town more or less had a police station and everyone knew their local policeman. Nowadays I don’t see a policeman let alone know his or her name
I do wonder what were the circumstances that led to this arrest and also what has been done about the youths who had reportedly been “verbally abusing” this man. A gun, even an air rifle, should never be pointed at anyone and the man should have had more sense. But I wonder whether the youths involved had been tormenting this man over an extended period of time?
I also wonder who filmed the arrest for the purpose of putting it on Facebook? Was it the youths themselves? Youngsters have been known to do all sorts of criminal things, such as setting things on fire to see the fire brigade arrive, for their own enjoyment and entertainment. Is this incident a similar sort of activity? This article raises more questions than answers and is disturbing.
If we had a more visible Police presence perhaps the abusive youths may have been dealt with before the situation escalated.
Some services just can’t be run on a profit and loss basis – the Police Service is just one example.
More Bobbies on the Beat is what is needed.
I agree though there is no justification in using any type of weapon.
apparently a gang of youths have been causing trouble for some time , that police have been putting an officer on patrol in the afternoon /early evening , and yet it have still led to an incident like this
I thought something like that was going on.