A man being sought in connection with a £15,000 ATM robbery was detained after allegedly fighting with a police dog, a court heard yesterday.
David Robert Thompson, 38, ran across four lanes of traffic in a bid to evade officers attempting to handcuff him, it was claimed.
He appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court following arrest earlier this week for further suspected driving offences. Thompson, of Southland Dale in the city, faces charges including taking a Renault van without authority, resisting police, criminal damage to a PSNI dog, causing unnecessary suffering to animals and possession of an offensive weapon – namely a knuckle duster.
The alleged offences relate to an incident in the Lisnevenagh Road area of Antrim on Wednesday. A detective sergeant claimed that when detained Thompson initially provided false details.
“While being handcuffed he broke free and fled from officers, running across four lanes of traffic,” the detective told the court.
“It ended in a fight with a police dog while officers were trying to locate him.”
Thompson is further charged with robbery in connection with a suspected £15,000 cash raid on an ATM machine in Belfast in January 2020. He is also accused of stealing steak, alcohol and groceries worth a total of £190 from Spar and Russells Cellar stores in April and May this year.
Deputy District Judge Liam McStay was told police had carried out searches at his address in a bid to locate him. Defence solicitor Darren Duncan said the latest incident involved a van belonging to Thompson’s father.
“This is a man (the accused) who has suffered from a brain injury for a number of years, after being the victim of a serious assault at a convenience store,” Mr Duncan added.
Granting bail, Mr McStay ordered Thompson to abide by a curfew and appear back in court in four weeks time.
