Armed police opened fire on a Fife man they believed was pointing a handgun at a neighbour during an all-day siege.
William Davidson, 46, barricaded himself inside the property in Kinglassie’s Mina Crescent, having earlier torched a pick-up truck in the street.
Procurator fiscal depute Claire Bremner told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court residents woke at around 6.30am on December 18 last year to find their bedrooms “glowing bright orange”, before looking out to see a car alight.
The court heard Davidson had, a few days earlier, threatened the vehicle owner that he would damage his car after losing his employment over taking alcohol and drugs.
Police were dispatched to the street and saw the vehicle owner kicking at Davidson’s door.
Davidson was seen standing by the door with a large kitchen knife and holding it at chest height.
The fiscal depute said: “Officers then said he had what appeared to be a small black handgun and armed officers were called.
“It has since transpired this was an air weapon.
“The public were moved away from the address.”
Police fired at accused
The court heard Davidson then told police he was having problems and had been drinking Buckfast and sambuca.
Firearms officers asked him to surrender his weapons but he refused.
The fiscal depute said: “The accused repeatedly attended at the window and it looked like a weapon at the window.”
Ms Bremner said as homes were evacuated, Davidson pointed the air pistol towards a neighbour, sparking concerns he was going to shoot her.
The fiscal depute continued: “Firearms officers fired two shots towards the accused.
“Both missed and the accused moved away from the window.
“A short time later he reappeared at the window with the air weapon.”
Siege finally ends after seven hours
Davidson’s erratic behaviour continued throughout the morning.
He dropped the air pistol out of the window at about 12.10pm but continued making threats.
Shortly before 2pm he phoned his sister and described the situation to her as being “like a game of Black Ops” – a possible reference to the video game Call of Duty.
Davidson was arrested by police shortly before 4pm for wilful fireraising.
The court heard he responded by saying: “See that car that went ‘boom,’ I put 10 litres of petrol underneath it. That jeep.”
Ms Bremner said the Ford Ranger pick-up truck was extensively fire damaged.
Residents told The Courier at the time they were worried for their safety and had to close their windows and stay indoors.
The incident saw a large part of the surrounding area cordoned off with people unable to travel through the village and residents told to park elsewhere.
Bullets entered accused’s home
The court heard officers later entered the property and found damage consistent with bullet entry.
It was determined at least one of the two bullets fired towards Davidson had entered the property through an open window.
Damage was caused to a painting, a wall and a tealight holder.
Davidson appeared at court via videolink from Perth Prison to admit wilfully setting fire to a car, which led to its destruction and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly brandishing a knife and a ball bearing air weapon and making violent threats.
Defence lawyer Kerr Sneddon said his client had drunk a “huge amount of alcohol” that day.
He had also had mental health difficulties.
Sheriff Alastair Brown adjourned sentence until August 16 for the production of background reports and remanded Davidson in custody.
