A young man is being held behind bars after being found in possession of a telescopic baton in Paceville and allegedly reacting aggressively when the police ordered him to hand it over.

The man, 21 from San Ġwann, was taken to court on Wednesday. He was denied bail after pleading not guilty. The court accepted a request for a ban on the publication of his name after his defence counsel cited “a most particular reason” that could result in prejudice to third parties. The prosecution did not object.

Prosecuting Inspector Matthew Spagnol explained how policemen who were patrolling the streets of Paceville had intervened in a minor argument between two young men in the early hours of Monday morning.

When order was restored, the police were informed that one of the men had been carrying a weapon, namely a telescopic baton.

When he was asked to hand over the weapon, the man allegedly resisted the police and slightly injuring two constables in the ensuing scuffle.

The allegedly aggressive behaviour continued in hospital where the young man was eventually escorted for treatment after suffering some injuries.

In court on Wednesday morning, the man pleaded not guilty to resisting the police and endangering their lives, violently resisting arrest, threatening or insulting the police and being in possession of a weapon.  

Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia upheld a request by the defence to appoint a medical expert to examine and photograph the two officers and the accused himself in view of their alleged injuries.

A request for bail was strongly objected to by the prosecution on the basis of the young man’s lack of trustworthiness, the risk of tampering with evidence and the gravity of the alleged offences. 

Lawyer Alfred Abela was defence counsel.