A police firearms unit stormed a house to arrest a man who was spotted marching up and down a Kirriemuir street armed with a crossbow and knife during lockdown.
Darren Barr – who knew he had Hepatitis C – spat in the face of a female officer while he was being pinned down in the Ninewells A&E department.
At Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Barr, 39, was jailed for 34 months after Sheriff Alasdair Carmichael branded him “offensive and disgusting”.
The court was told Barr had armed himself with the crossbow and knife over fears that a known gangland figure had put a price on his head.
Depute fiscal Saima Rasheen said: “Members of the public saw him trying to conceal a crossbow by his side. They observed that he was also concealing a knife at the back of his trousers.
“Others observed him holding the crossbow in both hands, walking up and down the street. He was seen walking into his home address.”
An armed response unit forced entry to Barr’s home after they heard screams coming from within.
Barr was found on his own and the weapons were recovered.
He had consumed a heavy dose of valium and was taken to Ninewells to be assessed.
He refused to comply with the medical staff.
The prosecutor said: “He was being restrained by four officers. He was still acting in an aggressive and violent manner so one officer was holding each limb.
“PC Marsden said he was not being let out, so he pushed himself closer to her. He spat at her and it landed on her head and face.”
Father-of-one Barr, of Hillhead Terrace, Kirriemuir, admitted having a crossbow and knife in the street on March 26, days after lockdown started.
He also admitted struggling with police and refusing to comply with medical staff at Ninewells on the same date.
Barr also admitted attacking PC Tracy Marsden by spitting in her face when he knew he was infected with Hepatitis C.
Solicitor Ann Duffy, defending, said Barr had incriminated a known gangster during an earlier jury trial and now believed a revenge hit had been ordered on him.
