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Police draw Tasers to arrest man in Thistle Hill, Minster, Sheppey

Police armed with Tasers arrested a man after forcing him to take his shirt off.

The incident happened in the middle of a housing estate on the Isle of Sheppey after four other men were attacked and a car damaged.

Police with Tasers make an arrest in Thistle Hill, Minster, Sheppey
Police with Tasers make an arrest in Thistle Hill, Minster, Sheppey

An eyewitness who watched the drama unfurl as he sat in his car said: "As I turned into Thistle Hill Way I noticed the road was blocked by an unmarked police car and two officers aiming Tasers at a man on the path.

"They obviously asked him to remove his coat and something fell to the floor.

"The man was then naked from the waist up and his hands appeared very red. My immediate thought was blood although I can’t be 100%."

As he watched he saw more police vehicles - about five or six - arrive.

'The police handled it brilliantly'

He said: "The man was arrested and an item was recovered from the ground and put into an evidence bag. Photos were taken of the spot where the item was dropped.

"The police handled it brilliantly, in my opinion, and in the end did not need to use the Tasers."

The arrest was made at 1.45pm on Friday in Nettle Way, Minster.

Police spokesman James Walker said: "Four men are said to have been assaulted by a single man.

"The same suspect is also reported to have damaged a car and a garden gate.

Police drew Taser guns but did not need to use them
Police drew Taser guns but did not need to use them

"Following a search, officers arrested Leonard Lee in connection with the incident."

Lee, 28, of Nettle Way, was later charged with two counts of racially aggravated assault, assault, common assault, racially aggravated criminal damage, criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon, a hammer, in a public place.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Medway Magistrates' Court yesterday (Monday) and was released on bail.

He will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court at a later date.

Taser stun guns issued to police fire metal barbs into a suspect and can then deliver up to 50,000 volts of electricity in rapid pulses.

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Sheppey

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