Tayside officer on trial over baton assault charge
A Tayside Police officer has gone on trial accused of attacking a man outside a Dundee nightclub with his baton while on duty.
PC Douglas Fisher, who is also a lieutenant in the Territorial Army and has served in Afghanistan, is charged with assaulting Nawras Alwan during an incident at the Liquid club last year.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, PC Fisher, 39, denied the attack.
The summary trial, before Sheriff McGowan, continues.
The court trial heard that violence had broken out in the streets around Liquid nightclub on 23 October 2011.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told that a scrap involving up to ten men broke out in the city's North Lindsay Street.
It broke up, before reigniting round the corner on South Ward Road.
Steven Cruickshank, 23, told the court he had been attacked by a man of Asian appearance with a shaved head during the second incident.
He said: "One of my friends was knocked unconscious and had to be taken away in an ambulance.
"Police came along and broke it up."
The court was shown CCTV footage of the incident, with Mr Cruickshank seen grappling with another man before police drag them apart.
The man he was fighting then appears to be struck repeatedly by a police officer wielding a baton.
Mark Stewart QC, defending, asked Mr Cruickshank: "The public appeared to be subjected to acts of violence in the street and the police have to restore order in the area?"
Mr Cruickshank said: "Yes."
Mr Stewart QC further asked: "Even after this male with the shaved head was apprehended he still appears to be shouting out?"
Mr Cruickshank replied yes and told the court that the man was not being compliant with the police.