Drugs case suspect accused of slapping police officer

A 27-year-old man from Tarxien was charged yesterday with threatening and slapping his neighbour, a police constable, whom he thought was involved in a pending drug case against him.

Clayton Azzopardi pleaded not guilty to assaulting and threatening PC Clive Mangion, who forms part of the police drug squad, slightly injuring him, damaging Mr Mangion's car and breaching the peace on Sunday at about 10.20 p.m.

Police sources said Mr Azzopardi wrongly assumed that the policeman who is a neighbour was behind a separate drugs-related investigation involving the accused.

Mr Azzopardi was also charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol earlier that evening and slightly injuring a pedestrian while driving dangerously. In addition, he was charged with breaching bail conditions imposed in another court case and relapsing.

In a separate arraignment, Mr Azzopardi's friend Rodrick Muscat, 22, was charged with acting as an accomplice to Mr Azzopardi as he was allegedly with him throughout the incident. Mr Muscat was also charged with breaching bail conditions and relapsing.

Both were denied bail by Magistrate Miriam Hayman.

Police Inspectors Alexander Grech and Pierre Grech prosecuted.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri represented the two men.