A 61-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted three people at a Bedok North coffee shop before pushing two police officers who intervened.
The incident happened at a coffee shop at Block 204 Bedok North Street 1 on Friday, 4 September, at around 8pm. Police said they received a call for assistance at about 7.45pm.
Man Allegedly Assaulted 3 People
According to preliminary police investigations, the 61-year-old was involved in an altercation in which he allegedly assaulted a 32-year-old man and two women aged 29 and 25.
Two other members of the public also stepped in and tried to stop him.
Shin Min Daily News reported that witnesses believed the incident began after the man, who had allegedly consumed two or three bottles of beer, got into a dispute with a female employee.
One witness told the Chinese-language newspaper that the man and the employee became involved in a physical struggle. About half an hour later, a stall owner arrived and asked about what had happened, after which another confrontation allegedly broke out.
Another witness said the altercation spilled into the dining area, where bowls and plates at another table were knocked over.
One female employee was seen bleeding from a cut on her lip, while another employee reportedly said she was unable to raise her arm.
Man Allegedly Pushed 2 Police Officers
When police officers arrived, they found several men involved in a scuffle.
Police said that when officers intervened, the 61-year-old allegedly pushed two of them. The spectacles of one officer were knocked off, while the man also allegedly directed vulgarities at another officer.
A laksa stall owner who spoke to Shin Min said he helped restrain the man after the latter allegedly resisted the officers. The man was eventually handcuffed and taken away.
Shin Min reporters also saw him undergoing a breathalyser test at the scene.
2 Women Taken to Hospital
Police said the two women suffered minor injuries and were taken conscious to hospital.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted at about 8.05pm and took two people to Changi General Hospital. Two other people had minor injuries but declined to be taken to hospital.
The 61-year-old was arrested for allegedly using criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out his duty and voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty.
Police also said he would be investigated for voluntarily causing hurt and intentional harassment.
