Hero officers who tackled man with gun and IEDs up for bravery award
They've been praised for their work in Gosport
Five Hampshire police officers who disarmed a man who was brandishing a handgun and two explosive devices have been nominated for a national bravery award.
The group were called to a building in Gosport on August 28th last year to detain a wanted man.
PC Emma Davies and PC Tim Clarkson attended, and they were joined by Sgt. David Gibbs, PC Nathan Fulton and PC Scott Thompson after the owner denied them access to the building.
PC Davies went to the back exit of the premises in case the suspect tried to escape, and Sgt Gibbs used a battering ram to get in the front door.
As Sgt Gibbs and PC Clarkson entered the hallway, the suspect walked down the stairs holding a handgun to his head.
The officers instructed the man to put the weapon down, but he failed to comply. The officers then noticed the man was wearing two cross-body bags, with wires coming out of them, and that he was clutching a battery pack and detonator.
Suddenly, the man detonated the device. One of his bags started sparking and quickly filled the hallway with suffocating, toxic smoke. At the same time, the man pointed his gun towards the officers.
Over her radio, PC Davies heard a mention of a firearm and then sounds of a gunshot, which turned out to be the device detonating. Fearing the worst, she ran to the front of the house to assist her colleagues.
As she got there, PC Clarkson and PC Thompson succeeded in Tasering the suspect, who fell to the floor. Together with Sgt Gibbs, they pulled him out of the property.
But the officers were still faced with a bag that was on fire and billowing out smoke and an unknown, potentially noxious, powder.
The officers, aided by PC Davies and PC Fulton, struggled to disarm the man and remove his bag. While they were doing so, the man grabbed the second bag that was around his body.
Fearing that he would detonate a second device, the officers quickly got control of him. A great deal of strength and effort was needed by PC Fulton and his colleagues to restrain and handcuff the man, so much so that it required two sets of cuffs.
PC Thompson cut the smoking device off the man and PC Clarkson threw it down a nearby alleyway. PC Davies used a fire extinguisher to try to cool the device down and put it out. It remained hot and smouldering, but did not present a further immediate risk.
The incident was so serious that Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) attended the scene and confirmed that the device was a viable improvised explosive device (IED) containing a bottle full of broken glass and metal ball bearings, which could act as shrapnel.
The bomb didn't detonate properly, but experts said that if it had, there would be serious injuries and possible fatalities.
They added that the use of Taser hindered the suspect’s attempts to detonate the device.
The man was arrested and later charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence; and acting with intent to cause an explosion likely to endanger life/injure property.
In February 2024, 54-year-old Damian Mazurkiewicz pleaded guilty to ‘use of imitation firearm to resist arrest’ under the Firearms act 1968, and ‘do an act with intent to cause an explosion’ under the Explosive Substances Act 1883.
Zoë Wakefield, Chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said: “What a fantastic five colleagues. Many congratulations to Emma, Tim, David, Nathan and Scott.
"This incident turned into something completely unexpected and terrifying. The officers’ selfless actions, when faced with an armed suspect with an explosive device, displayed their quick thinking, great teamwork and huge courage.
"Their pure professionalism was amazing; if it hadn’t been for their actions there would surely have been serious injuries, if not fatalities.
"We are all extremely proud of them."