Knife-carrying driver sprayed police during A40 roadside stop

A SERVING police officer has described his fear after repeated attempts to Taser a suspected drug-driver failed during a roadside arrest on the A40.

PC Dylan Davies was attempting to arrest 41-year-old Mark Logan last November when the defendant sprayed him several times with an unidentified red substance and appeared unaffected by multiple Taser deployments.

“I had no idea what it was nor what harm it would do to me,” PC Davies said in a victim impact statement read to District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“After being a police officer for four years, this was the first time I have ever had to request assistance.”

The court heard that Logan was seen driving a black Audi A1 eastbound on the A40 at around 3.30pm on November 1.

When a police check revealed the vehicle was registered to a female, PC Davies activated his blue lights and Logan brought the car to a stop near Haverfordwest.

Crown Prosecutor Nia James said that when Logan got out of the vehicle, the officer immediately noticed he was wide-eyed and unsteady on his feet.

“When he was asked to get into the back of the police vehicle, he became hostile,” she said.

Logan struck PC Davies on the hands, preventing the officer from taking hold of him.

“He became more aggressive and I was fearful he was going to assault me due to his erratic behaviour,” PC Davies said.

Logan then began walking towards the officer while spraying him with the unidentified red substance.

“I knew he was a danger to myself and to members of the public,” PC Davies continued.

“I felt the spray land on my body and he showed a clear intention to harm me. He remained incredibly hostile and I didn’t know what other weapons he had on him.”

PC Davies said he drew his Taser and shouted repeatedly for Logan to get on the ground, but Logan ran towards the Toyota garage.

“I red-dotted him and continued to shout at him to get to the ground, but he ignored me,” he said.

Logan then walked back towards the officer.

“At that point I didn’t know what to expect, so I deployed my Taser,” PC Davies said.

“But he appeared totally unbothered and began pulling at the Taser wires. I re-engaged it and Tasered him again, instructing him to lie face-down on the ground, but again he refused. The Taser had no effect on him whatsoever.”

A further attempt by PC Davies to restrain Logan using physical contact also failed.

Additional officers soon arrived and succeeded in bringing Logan to the ground, where he was handcuffed.

During a police interview, Logan confirmed he had a knife on him. A subsequent search found a black locking knife inside his jacket pocket, with a blade measuring 10cm.

Ms James told the court that as a result of the incident, PC Davies suffered facial irritation from the spray and “overwhelming” pain to his arm.

Logan, of Glandwr House, Lower Cwmtwrch, Swansea, pleaded guilty to possessing a knife in a public place and assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

He was represented by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said Logan had no previous convictions.

“He has always been in employment and is an upstanding member of the community,” she said.

“He fully accepts his behaviour was unacceptable, but at the time he was experiencing significant mental health difficulties, which have since been recognised by medical professionals.”

She told the court these included paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and psychotic tendencies.

Ms Harries said the red spray was a self-defence device that can be legally purchased online, including via Amazon, and added that Logan was “extremely motivated to work with probation” following the offence.

After hearing mitigation, District Judge Mark Layton adjourned sentencing until January 20.

He warned Logan that custody was being considered, but said it was not yet clear whether any sentence would be immediate or suspended, pending a probation report on the possible imposition of a curfew.

Logan was released on unconditional bail.