Five people have been arrested after police officers (Wiltshire Police) were assaulted while responding to a shoplifting incident in Potterne.
Officers were called at around 2 pm on Wednesday 4th December after three men and two women had walked into a shop in Silver Street and stolen two bottles of alcohol and a bucket of flowers.
The group had then got into a red Fiat Punto and, when confronted by a member of staff, had thrown the bucket of flowers at them.
Response team officers quickly located the vehicle in nearby Church Lane and arrested five people.
During the arrests, five police officers were assaulted, including being punched and spat at.
The group also made various threats to the officers, including threatening to burn down their houses.
Acting Inspector Pete Foster, from Devizes Community Policing Team, said:
“This was a sustained and violent assault on a group of police officers who were responding to a report of shoplifting.
“This highlights the potential dangers, as well as the abuse, that our police officers and staff face day-in, day-out and we will not tolerate it.
“I know the vast majority of the local community will join me in condemning this incident and supporting the officers involved.”
Officers later charged four people.
Nathan Law, 37, of Braemor Road, Calne, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, driving without due care and attention and two counts of criminal damage.
Giovanni Fisher, 31, of Snowberry Walk, Bristol, was charged with assault with intent to resist arrest and obstructing an officer in the execution of their duty.
He is due to appear at Salisbury Magistrates Court on 3rd January 2020.
Stacey Kibble, 28, of no fixed address, Devizes, charged with obstructing an officer in the execution of their duty and is due in Salisbury Magistrates on 3rd January 2020.
Michael Kibble, 24, of Pembroke Road, Chippenham, charged with theft from a shop and assault with intent to resist arrest.
He is due at Salisbury Magistrates on 3rd January 2020.
The fifth person arrested, a 19-year-old woman from Chippenham, has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
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