INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Firearms unit sent to scene after man threatened to shoot police
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A police firearms unit of seven officers were called to an Inverness property after the occupant threatened to shoot police who entered.
But Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 55-year-old Alan Craig, then of Gilbert Street, was unarmed and was lying on the floor when the armed cops gained access on March 28, 2021.
The entire street was cordoned off by regular uniformed officers after Craig, now of Muirtown Street, made his threats.
The court was told their armed colleagues tried to engage with him initially.
But he refused and they had to force their way into the flat despite a barricaded door.
Fiscal depute Shamiela Ghafar said the initial call was for police to carry out a welfare check on the occupants of the flat.
Craig admitted threatening or abusive behaviour and threatening to shoot police officers.
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said: "My client suffers from poor mental and physical health. At the time, he had taken a combination of alcohol and his medication.
"He is extremely embarrassed by what took place."
Sheriff Sara Matheson decided to defer sentence for a background report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
She said: "I regard this as a very serious matter involving a firearms unit."
Craig will return for sentencing on July 28 and his bail was continued.
