Taxi Tip Leads To Police Armed Swoop

ARMED police stormed a house in Hatherley after a man was seen brandishing a gun.

Firearms officers swooped on Hatherley Lane, at 12.30am yesterday after a taxi driver reported seeing a man with what looked like a rifle.

A 26-year-old man had to be talked out of the house by a police negotiator, and was arrested on suspicion of threats to kill.

Officers uncovered a stash of imitation firearms when they searched the man’s room.

A taxi driver had dropped a man off at the house at 11.45pm on Wednesday.
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The passenger then came out of the house carrying what the driver described as a rifle, before going back inside.

The driver immediately called police, who shut the road off and surrounded the house, which is shared by five men.

Stuart Mitchell, 21, was asleep in bed in the house when he was woken by police banging on the door. After hearing voices in his garden he went downstairs, where he was met by armed police.

He said: “I saw one of the policemen facing me with a gun, telling me to get out and get on the ground. It was terrifying.”

The University of Gloucestershire student was searched and handcuffed.

He said he had never met the arrested 26-year-old, who moved into the house 10 days ago.

A 63-year-old man, who didn’t want to be named, answered the door. He said: “I came outside and was told to put my hands up and walk towards the torch light. I was searched and handcuffed. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. It was a frightening experience.”

The pair say they were taken to the police station in Lansdown Road with a man in his 70s ,who also lives in the house, before being taken to the Express Holiday Inn at 9.30am.

A police spokesperson said: “A 26-year-old man from Cheltenham has been arrested following an incident in Hatherley Lane late last night.

“The incident happened at 11.45pm when a taxi driver dropped his passenger off at an address in Hatherley Lane. The passenger then came out of the house carrying what the driver described as a rifle, before returning to the property.

“The driver immediately called the police, who subsequently arrested the man.

“A search of the property has found a number of what appear to be imitation firearms, which are being examined by firearms officers.”

The man was last night being questioned.

source