Arrest after reports of man waving gun in Walsall church
A man has been arrested after police were alerted to reports of an individual waving a gun around in a Walsall church.
Several people contacted West Midlands Police on Thursday morning to report a man inside St Paul's Church, in Darwall Street, brandishing what appeared to be a handgun.
Armed officers were deployed to the area and the police helicopter lifted in a bid to locate the man.
Police also quickly secured and publicised a CCTV image of the suspect.
The appeal prompted further sightings – and together with local enquiries, it led officers to a flat in Sandwell Street, in Walsall, where a suspect was arrested just before 8pm on Thursday evening.
A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was in police custody yesterday evening.
Force Incident Manager, Chief Inspector Steve Radford, said: “I would like to thank everyone who responded to our appeal and provided information. It helped us identify a suspect and an address which we then contained with armed officers.
“We are currently in the process of searching the flat.
“I would like to praise the professionalism of all the officers involved who have brought this incident to a safe conclusion.”
Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101, quoting log number 1039 of September 10.
