POLICE units converged as an Oswestry street was sealed off to the public last Monday night (January 7).
Dozens of officers, including the dog unit, were on the scene at an address in Upper Brook Street for nearly three hours after receiving calls at around 8.20pm concerning the safety of a 29-year-old man who had locked himself into a flat.
The male emerged shortly after 11pm and was arrested on suspicion of affray and criminal damage but later released with no further action being taken by police.
Victoria Evans, who saw the drama unfold, told the Advertizer: “It all started about 9.30pm. The police turned up with two or three cars outside and then more and more turned up including the dogs unit. Then at about 10pm they started taping the area off.
“We heard two big smashes and glass falling, and police were there with riot shields,” she added.
The street was blocked with police cars at the traffic lights with Lower Brook Street, the former BT base on Welsh Walls and the Upper Brook Street junction with Oswald Place.
Fire and ambulance crews also raced to the scene.
West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels, said the man was “extremely agitated”, adding: “A number of items were thrown from the flat window into the garden and street below, including glass.”
The man was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for a medical assessment.