Police Tasered a 43-year-old man in inner-west Sydney on Monday afternoon after he was found to be allegedly in possession of four knives, a hammer, and illicit drugs. The incident occurred on Belmore Street in Burwood around 4:15 p.m. after officers responded to reports of a man behaving suspiciously.
As police arrived, two men fled the scene. Officers engaged with the 43-year-old man, who was allegedly armed. According to Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald, officers made multiple attempts to get the man to drop his weapons. One officer drew a firearm, and another deployed a Taser.
Video footage from the scene shows the man running with at least one knife before falling. He was on the ground as officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapons. The man initially held the knives in the air and made attempts to sit up before he was Tasered. Eventually, five officers subdued him and took him into custody.
He was found to be carrying two knives in his hands, two more in a bag, a hammer, cannabis, and methamphetamine. The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment and remained there on Tuesday. He is expected to face drug and weapon charges upon his release.
A second man, aged 26, was issued a court attendance notice for resisting arrest. Both individuals were previously known to police.
Superintendent McDonald commended the officers for their handling of the situation, stating it prevented a potentially more dangerous outcome, especially given the public location. She also issued a warning to the public about carrying weapons, emphasizing that such actions lead to arrest and charges.
Detective Chief Superintendent McDonald indicated that while a drug transaction was suspected, the investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the event.