Axe-Carrying Man Who Approached SPF Officers Arrested; He May Be Involved in Nearby Fight

In Singapore, weapons are a big no-no. Yet on extremely rare occasions, you may see something terrifying on the streets, such as the axe-wielding man who was spotted along Stamford Road recently.

He was caught on dashcam walking towards two SPF officers with an axe, and was suspected to be involved in a nearby altercation.

Here’s what happened.

What Exactly Happened

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) told CNA that They were informed of a fight along Stamford Road at around 2:30 am on Tuesday (11 April).

Officers who arrived on the scene were approached by a 25-year-old man carrying an axe.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, the ax-carrying man was seen crossing the road at a junction along Stamford Road and Victoria Street.

The dashcam video captured him sauntering towards the police car parked at the junction, still carrying the axe.

As he approached the car, two police officers pointed their tasers at him. Thankfully, nothing dramatic happened and the man raised his hands and released the axe onto the ground.

Aftermath

They arrested the man carrying the axe for possessing an offensive weapon, using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty and using abusive language against a public servant.

A 71-year-old man was hurt at the scene and taken to the hospital. Thankfully, he did not sustain any life-threatening injuries.

The SPF confiscated the axe. A 29-year-old man is currently assisting them with investigations.

The Consequences

An offensive weapon is any object likely to endanger others and cause hurt.

Should a person carry an offensive weapon in public for no lawful reason, they could face imprisonment of up to three years and caning of up to six strokes.

It is only permissible to carry such weapons if you are in the army or police force or for ceremonial purposes.

Assaulting a public servant could land you a prison term of up to four years and/or a fine, which is more severe than the general punishment for criminal force.

A person verbally abusing public servants could face imprisonment of up to 12 months and/or a maximum fine of $5,000.

Recent Incidents

In March, Traffic Police (TP) officers went on a wild goose chase after a motorcyclist who refused to stop for a vehicle check.

The motorcyclist sped off and crashed into a traffic light pole before getting up and speeding off again.

This caused TP officers to chase him on their feet, and he was eventually caught.

The officers found that the motorcyclist possessed a sharp weapon as well. He was arrested for the possession of a weapon and other traffic-related charges.