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Reece Armstrong, 26, of no fixed address, was involved in a fight with another man in Endrook Valley on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
At around 4.20 p.m., an officer arrived in the area with PD Blue and approached Armstrong.
Armstrong spoke to the officer briefly before standing up and pulling a large zombie knife from his hoodie.
He became aggressive and charged at the officer and PD Blue, shouting, ‘I’m going to kill your dog!’
Fearing for his and PD Blue’s safety, the officer ordered Armstrong to stop and take a step back. Armstrong disregarded these orders and swung the knife at PD Blue. The blade caught his collar but luckily did not cut him.
Armstrong then ran away from the scene.
He was later apprehended by firearms patrols in Folkestone Town Centre on Monday 28 March. He attempted to flee from officers once more, but was apprehended and detained with the assistance of a police drone. Officers found the zombie knife he used in his attack on PD Blue after he was apprehended.
Armstrong was immediately recalled to prison for violating the terms of his licence in relation to a separate conviction after being interviewed in custody and charged in relation to the offences committed.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of having an offensive weapon in a public place, assaulting an emergency worker, and instilling fear of violence. On Thursday, July 7, he was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.
Armstrong’s behaviour was utterly abhorrent; PD Blue and his handler were extremely lucky to be able to walk away from this incident unharmed,’ said investigating officer PC Sophia Lateu of Kent Police.
‘Every day, our officers are called to unpredictable, difficult, and sometimes volatile situations.’ Officers, like any other job, should be able to perform their duties without being subjected to such repulsive and potentially dangerous behaviour.
‘Assaults on police officers, staff, or our police dogs are completely unacceptable, and we will not hesitate to prosecute those who endanger their safety and the safety of other emergency workers in this manner.’
