Man red-dotted with taser by Portsmouth police after threatening Lidl staff with a 'used syringe' in Hilsea
A MAN was red-dotted with a taser by police after holding up shop staff with a ‘used syringe’ during a theft.
An officer from Fareham happened to be passing Lidl in Hilsea on Saturday morning and was alerted to a man who had stolen items and threatened staff with a needle.
He red-dotted the suspect with a taser and then arrested the 25-year-old man.
Luke Warren Meller of no fixed abode was charged with one count of theft from a shop and two counts of using threatening behaviour to cause harm, alarm or distress.
A police spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that we were called out to an incident at 9.09am on Saturday 14 November after reports of a man shoplifting at Lidl on Norway Road, Hilsea.
‘A 25-year-old man threatened staff at the store with an uncapped needle. Officers challenged the man, red-dotting with a taser in the process, and arrested him.
‘Meller is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates Court on Monday, March 1, 2021.
A tweet from Hants Response Cops read: ‘Fareham E shift officer just happened to be passing Lidl on Norway Road in Hilsea where a male had stolen items and threatened staff with a used syringe.
‘Bad move as challenged and red dotted with taser and arrested. Subsequently charged with 3 offences. #wrongplacewrongtime’
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