Gunman runs amok in North Lanarkshire village

Jul 21 2011 by Leona Greenan, Hamilton Advertiser

A MAN armed with a gun went on the rampage in a busy residential area of Cleland on Saturday afternoon.

The North Lanarkshire village, between Carfin and Coltness, was brought to a standstill as armed police surrounded the man in Gorsehall Street at around 5pm.

A police helicopter was dispatched and hovered around the Bellside area as officers attempted to close in on the suspect.

Roads were also closed off before police arrested the man.

No-one was hurt in the incident.

One witness who lives nearby said: “I heard the police helicopter about 5pm. It sounded like it was almost on my roof.

“Apparently, a young lad was down at Green Gardens with a gun and the police were holding him at gunpoint. I’ve no idea how it all came about, but apparently he was jumping into people’s back gardens with the gun. Residents could see him from their windows.”

Another resident added: “I was driving through Cleland and saw lots of police about, as the place was brought to a standstill with many roads closed. I could see the helicopter overhead.”

A police spokesperson confirmed the incident and said: “About 5pm on Saturday, July 16, police received a phone call from the Cleland area claiming that a male was in possession of what appeared to be a firearm.

“Police responded and after making initial inquiries detained a 25-year-old man who was later arrested and charged with crimes relating to firearms and offensive weapons legislation.

“It is not often that we have to deal with incidents involving firearms but the witnesses in this incident did exactly the right thing by phoning the police who, using specially trained officers, were able to trace the person responsible and arrest him with no-one coming to any harm.”

A Cleland man appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Tuesday on two charges of carrying an offensive weapon and a separate charge of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

James McCafferty (25), made no plea or declaration to the charges and was released on bail with the case continued for further examination.