Knife seized as man is arrested in Pentagon Shopping Centre, outside Poundland, in Chatham High Street
Published: 12:52, 23 September 2024
Updated: 15:31, 24 September 2024
A knife has been seized and a man arrested after an officer was allegedly assaulted while responding to reports a man was acting erratically.
The incident happened at around 3.50pm yesterday (Sunday, September 22) in the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham High Street, outside Poundland.
A police community support officer was on patrol when he responded to a report that a man was acting erratically in a shop.
It is alleged the PCSO was assaulted at the premises. A local man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the incident.
A knife was also seized and inquiries are under way.
The incident was witnessed by a 12-year-old who described the moment as “scary” as she watched the suspect being handcuffed as he lay on the ground.
She says she saw a total of nine officers.
She said: “Everyone looked really distressed – I was scared and my legs were shaking.”
The 12-year-old’s mother said she is now wary to let her daughter, who is in Year 8, go into town shopping again because of these types of situations.
The 32-year-old mum said: “I don’t usually let her out, knife crime being the main reason. I am careful to let her out - and it just so happens the one time I say she can go shopping with her friend, this happens.”
The suspect was conditionally bailed to return to the police station on December 22, pending further investigation.
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Elli Hodgson