A man has been charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker in Eastbourne.
It happened at around 2.30pm on Monday (June 6) after a member of the public flagged down to Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on patrol.
They said a man, who may have been intoxicated, was acting strangely in Bolton Road.
The PCSOs tried to speak with the man but he resisted so more help was called in.
A Police Constable and Special Constable arrived to attempt to detain the man in Terminus Road so they could search him for weapons, but a hostile crowd gathered and both officers were assaulted suffering minor injuries.
A man now known to be Benjamin Thomas was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker and was taken into custody.
Thomas, 32, of Elms Avenue, Eastbourne, was subsequently charged with both offences and was released on unconditional bail to appear before Hastings Magistrates’ Court on July 20.
Superintendent Adam Hays said:
“No one should be assaulted for simply doing their job.
“PCSOs, Police Constables and Special Constables all have an important role to play in keeping the public safe and I applaud the bravery they show in situations that can often be incredibly hostile and challenging.
"Any assaults or intentional harm directed towards them will absolutely not be tolerated.”
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