Man to stand trial accused of assaulting police officers

Paul McRorie faces a series of charges over an alleged incident on April 15 last year at his home in Brechin.

Published 15th Mar 2017

An Angus man is to stand trial accused of "instructing his dog to attack" two police officers.

Paul McRorie faces a series of charges over an alleged incident on April 15 last year at his home in Brechin.

It is alleged he first assaulted one PC by sitting at his head in the knowledge that he was a carrier of Hepatitis C.

McRorie is then alleged to have obstructed or hindered three PCs by struggling violently with them and lashing out with his arms and legs and attempting to throw stones at them.

Prosecutors say McRorie then instructed a dog to attack two of the PCs before "uttering threats of violence towards them" and threatening to kill them.

He is then alleged to have again assaulted a PC by kicking him on the body and attempting to headbutt him.

The following day at Arbroath Police Station McRorie is alleged to have behaved in a threatening or abusive manner and shouted derogatory remarks at PC Irvine.

McRorie, 41, denies two charges of assault, two of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of resisting arrest on indictment at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Defence solicitor John Boyle said: "He pleads not guilty to the charges. Certain evidence can be agreed in this case."

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael continued the case to a trial date next month.