On March 6, 2019, Dorset Police received reports of a drunk man walking down the street in Dorchester, clearly under the influence and with another man.
PC Natalie Skinner and PC Anthony Elswood of the Dorchester Neighbourhood Policing Team responded to the incident. PC Mark Powell, another colleague, had arrived just before them; the two men had seen him and fled.
PC Skinner got out of her police car and saw the men fleeing. She approached the man closest to her, with whom she had previously dealt, because he had previously been arrested for assault and drug supply.
PC Skinner told the man to stay put, saying, “It’s the police, stop where you are.” However, he continued to flee, so PC Skinner pursued him on foot. He stumbled and slipped over after a brief chase. He immediately stood back up, and PC Skinner told him to stay where he was.
PC Skinner noticed the man scrambling to his feet and pulling something from his jacket. She noticed it had a large black handle with a grip indentation and assumed it was a large combat knife.
PC Skinner drew her Taser, thinking he was carrying a combat knife.
The man continued to run, but she yelled that she was a Taser-trained officer and that he needed to stop where he was.
As PC Skinner approached him, she managed to grab his arm. When the man turned to face PC Skinner, she noticed he had a stun gun in his other hand, which he raised towards her.
They were less than a metre apart, and the man towered over her, the stun gun’s two metal prongs visible and close to PC Skinner’s head. The device was swung towards her by the man.
PC Skinner used her Taser, but it did not work, and she saw the probe fly past him. She was then able to get some distance and fire the Taser again, at which point the man was rendered unconscious and fell backwards.
PC Skinner arrested the man for possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply. A number of tablets were found at the scene. Officers apprehended the other man who had fled and arrested him for assault and drug possession.
The person has been found guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Natalie apprehended this dangerous man, even though she knew he had some kind of weapon,” said Dorset Police Federation Chair James Dimmack.
It took incredible bravery to pursue him and then grab him while he was armed.
“She fully deserves this award nomination, and I thank her for removing this man from our streets and ensuring public safety.”
The National Police Bravery Awards recognise officers from across England and Wales who have displayed exceptional bravery while on or off duty.
PC Skinner will attend a reception and awards ceremony in London in July as a nominee.