 has released a statement on its social media pages addressing the viral video which saw a SPF officer){kind=link}
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has released a statement on its social media pages addressing the viral video which saw a SPF officer opening fire on a knife wielding man charging towards him.
The man, 49 years of age, had been arrested for alleged involvement in a case of criminal intimidation and also for voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.
SPF officers first received a report where a 41 year old man was allegedly assaulted by the said 49 year old man with the knife he was carrying at Block 420A Clementi Avenue 1.
The 41 year old sustained injuries on the right arm and wrist and was transferred to the hospital.
Current investigations shown that the both men were strangers.
Subsequently after the assault, the 49 year old man boarded a cab to Clementi Police Division and shouted when SPF officers approached him.
Despite repeated instructions to drop his knife, the man refused and charged towards one of the SPF officers who shot him in his left arm with his issued gun.
The man was then sent to the hospital and will be charged in court today (18 Feb).
Here is the statement by the Police
“KNIFE-WIELDING MAN SHOT BY POLICE OFFICER
On 17 February 2022 at about 8.40pm, the Police were alerted to a case where a 41-year-old man was purportedly assaulted by a 49-year-old man with a knife along Block 420A Clementi Avenue 1. The 41-year-old man suffered injuries on his right arm and wrist, and was conveyed conscious to the hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim and assailant were not known to each other.
The 49-year-old man then boarded a taxi to Clementi Police Division and was seen holding a knife and standing outside the Police station. On duty Police officers approached the man, and he was observed to be shouting incoherently. Despite the officers’ repeated instructions to drop the knife, the man refused to comply with the verbal warning and charged towards one of the officers, while armed with a knife. As there was imminent threat to the officer, he then fired one shot at the man with his service revolver. The man was then detained by the officers. The 49-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound on his left arm. He was conveyed conscious to the hospital and is currently in a stable condition.
The 49-year-old man will be charged on 18 February 2022 for the offences of criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. The offence of criminal intimidation carries an imprisonment term of up to two years or a fine, or both. The offence of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon carries an imprisonment term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with caning.
The Police will not tolerate criminal acts which display a blatant disregard of the law and we will spare no efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
Commander of Clementi Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Marc E, expressed his appreciation to the officers for their bravery and devotion to their duty and said, “The officer assessed that his life was in imminent danger from the knife-wielding man and therefore opened fire. The officers ensured that the threatening situation was brought under control quickly with no danger to the public. Police officers risk their safety on a daily basis and this incident showed that officers have to react to the evolving situation quickly to prevent further harm to the public, while using the appropriate level of force.”