Officer injured during early morning arrest
A police officer was injured during a dramatic armed stand-off in a quiet Kent village after a man was reportedly seen wielding both a sword and a knife.
Officers flooded Istead Rise, near Gravesend, just before 8am on Wednesday after the man allegedly clashed with workmen at a nearby building site and began acting aggressively. Armed units were deployed, and a Taser was used to subdue the suspect when he allegedly refused to cooperate.
Shock for residents on the school run
Locals described seeing officers block off the street as the arrest unfolded. One resident, Gary Hickinson, said he witnessed the aftermath while walking his daughter to school.
“I spoke to one of the officers who said that because an officer was injured the road would be closed for some time,” he said. “It’s not what you expect to see on the morning commute.”
The injured officer suffered a cut to the hand during the arrest and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Suspect taken into custody
A 29-year-old man, described by police as a local resident, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon. He remains in custody while investigations continue.
Kent Police confirmed the man had been acting in a threatening manner before officers arrived, prompting the deployment of armed units.
Community left shaken
Although the incident was brought under control swiftly, the response left the usually peaceful village rattled. Police have not confirmed what triggered the confrontation, but residents say there had been tension at the site earlier that morning.
Investigators are now reviewing statements and CCTV footage from the area.
