Moment man who ‘threatened Croydon bus passengers with unknown substance’ is TASERED by cops
THE moment a man accused of threatening bus passengers with an unknown substance was Tasered has been caught on camera.
The terrifying ordeal unfolded in Croydon, London around 10.30pm yesterday – with cops quickly racing to the quiet residential road.
Just before midnight police Tasered a man, 44, and then rushed him to hospital.
The tense stand-off came after the man was said to be refusing to get off the busy bus.
Onlookers recorded the moment the passengers fled the double-decker, before cops swarmed the street and taped off the road.
Police with specialised blue chemical suits could be seen surrounding the bus as passengers stood on the street.
They then approached a man, who was sitting alone at the top of the double-decker, with a riot shield in hand.
The cops then leapt on the man, before dragging him down to the street.
The man was said to have boarded the bus in Brixton, before he allegedly began to smoke.
It’s claimed passengers then intervened before the man allegedly threatened them with an unknown substance.
However, cops later revealed the substance was found not to be harmful – and the man was arrested.
Amber Nurse, 38, lives nearby and watched the horror unfold.
The admin clerk said she had been in bed when her son woke her to say something was happening outside.
She said: “The police were there and then I saw the armed police too looking around. That’s when I thought ‘this is quite serious’.
“The guys in the blue suits were there. There was a negotiator trying to get him downstairs.
“Then they went up. They approached him and finally Tasered him.”
Amber added: “There were so many blue suits it was hard to see.
“They took him to one side and stripped him and put him in other clothes.
“He was taken away in an ambulance.”
A Met Police spokesperson said this morning: “Police responded to calls to London Road, Thornton Heath shortly after 10.30pm last night.
“A man had threatened bus passengers with an unknown substance.
“Nobody was held hostage. The man made threats and everyone else on the bus immediately got off. The substance was not thrown.
“Shortly before midnight, the 44-year-old man was arrested for affray. The substance was found not to be harmful.
“Taser was discharged prior to his arrest and officers believe the man had taken drugs. As a precaution, he was taken to hospital.
“His condition is not believed to be life-threatening.”