Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Tuesday, 4th June 2024, at 09:00hrs
Two brave police officers who went to apprehend a man armed with a gun have been nominated for a Police Federation Bravery Award after being sprayed in the face with ammonia during the arrest.
On a social media post, Metropolitan Police Service said,
“Two dedicated officers who returned to work the day after being sprayed in the face with ammonia and threatened with a gun to help secure the conviction of an extremely dangerous offender have been nominated for a Police Federation Bravery Award.
Police were contacted around 11 pm. on 7 June 2022 to reports of a man and a woman arguing and that they heard a gunshot.
PC Samuel Goard and PC George Garner attended the scene and approached a male, who we now know to be James Boyle. He was seen searching under a car to recover the live rounds of ammunition and the spent casing from when the firearm was discharged earlier.
The officers attempted to speak to the man and asked him to take his hands out of his pockets.
Boyle then pulled out a bottle and sprayed the officer in the face with ammonia before moving towards him. Despite only being able to see out of one eye, the officer managed to use his PAVA spray, which caused the suspect to turn around and flee.
PC Goard said in his impact statement: “At the time of the incident, I was in complete fear for my life. I did not know what the man had sprayed at me. Thoughts of acid, ammonia, or any liquid that could have caused me irreversible injuries to my eye, sight, or permanent disfigurement to my face overcame me.
“My thoughts turned to my son at home. Was he going to grow up only knowing me as having a disfigured face? Will he recognise me when I go home?”
The pair chased Boyle when he suddenly pulled out a handgun from his waistband and threatened the officers with it before escaping on foot.
An investigation was launched, and detectives spent hours collating and trawling through CCTV, leading them to identify their suspect.
He was located and arrested by officers on 24 June 2022. During a search of his home address, the firearm Boyle used to threaten officers and fired before police arrival was recovered along with rounds of ammunition. The ammunition and the bottle containing the liquid both provided forensic matches to Boyle.
PC Garner said in his impact statement: “When he pulled the gun on me, I felt powerless and had to let him run away. I was left with the same recurring thought – if it was so easy to point a gun at a police officer, what would he do to a member of the public?
“I returned to work the day after the incident. I love my job and didn’t want what happened to affect me or make me fearful, but it is a terrifying reminder the most routine call could end up being something that could change my life, or the lives of my loved ones, forever.”
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Woodsford, from Specialist Crime, said: “Boyle is an extremely dangerous offender, and we are pleased the overwhelming evidence gathered during our investigation left him with no choice but to plead guilty. We have no doubt he would have caused further harm if he had not been identified and arrested so quickly.
“The officers’ achievements have been exceptional, and they have all delivered well beyond what we expected of them. In addition to those to be commended for their investigation, PC Goard and PC Garner are to be commended for their bravery and dedication to duty.
“The suspect at the time of the incident was unidentified and posed a huge risk to the public and police. This nomination is to recognise the bravery of the two injured officers, who, in the face of an ammonia attack and a live firearm, thought about the public and returned to work the next day to try and help with the investigation.”
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