Off-duty police officer David Marr threw himself at a thug clutching a petrol can who was threatening to burn down a restaurant – then joked that he wouldn’t let it ruin his lunch.
The sergeant, 42, who has been compared to Bruce Willis’s character in Die Hard, was eating with his wife Jenny, 43, when he tackled the would-be arsonist who had terrorised dozens of diners. The Police Scotland officer, who is to receive a bravery award this week, then calmly went back to his table to finish his meal.
The thug had argued with a waiter at Ashoka in Glasgow’s Ashton Lane and had been asked to leave twice.
He came back a third time armed with a lit cigarette and a five-gallon can of petrol and shouted: “I’m not joking, I’m going to burn it down.”
David leapt from his seat and brought him crashing to the ground – preventing him from igniting the petrol.
David, who specialises in road traffic investigations, said the suspect had been sitting on a wall outside the Ashoka when he arrived for lunch.
He added: “I never took much notice of him at that point.
“I remember thinking when he came into the restaurant the second time, ‘Go away, I just want to have a meal in peace.’
“I knew when he brought the jerry can into the restaurant that I had to take action given his previous threats.
“I’d seen him outside smoking so I knew he had a source of ignition and you can’t be prepared to let that happen – you don’t take the chance.
“I stood up, shouted that I was the police and went forward and tried to take control of him and get him away from that jerry can.
“It was a very small, confined space so we ended up rolling around.
“When he tried to leave, I restrained him on the floor until my colleagues arrived a few minutes later.
“I gave them a statement and then returned to my meal.”
David had ordered South Indian garlic chilli chicken and his wife lamb pardesi to go with their starters, which were then delivered to his table.
He added: “There is no way I was going to let the incident spoil my lunch – Indian is my favourite food.”
At the trial, prosecutor Tanjeel Maleque admitted the incident was like a scene from the 1988 action movie.
He told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “The events are almost akin to a movie plot. An off-duty police officer stepping up to save the day – it certainly has an air of Die Hard to it.
“The reality is this incident was not cinematic or enjoyable for those involved.”
David, who is from Glasgow, has had plenty of ribbing from his colleagues about the Die Hard references.
He added: “It was a bit over- the-top and embarrassing.”
No motive was given in court for the threat.
Restaurant manager Chetan Parmar said the man had been a “nuisance” and was asked to leave. The thug, who had been drinking, returned a short time later with the jerry can.
He denied threatening to burn the building down and said bringing the jerry can into the restaurant was a stupid mistake.
He was found guilty of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and jailed for two years.
David will get his award at a special ceremony at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on Thursday for hero officers, organised by the Scottish Police Federation.
The prizes will be presented by Justice Secretary Keith Brown and Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.
David Hamilton, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said Sgt Marr’s actions had ensured the public faced no further risk.
He said: “He has shown the essence of what it is to be a police officer, stepping forward to protect the public, even when off duty.
“Police officers, and their families, never know when they can be called upon and Sgt Marr’s selflessness and commitment to protect the public should be recognised. He is truly deserving of this award.”
Twenty-five hero police officers have been nominated for awards, including David, spread across six categories.
Sarah Quick has been recommended for two awards after she was seriously injured during a violent attack while checking on the welfare of high-risk young children in a house in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh.
Concerns had been raised by social workers about their welfare and the officer had been asked to attend.
When she arrived, Sarah was punched and kicked by the occupants, both men and women. She was then battered over the head with a metal dumbbell bar, knocking her down a flight of stairs and splitting her head open. She suffered severe concussion and was off work for four months.
Colleague PC Calum Connelly, who nominated Sarah, said: “She was desperate to get back to full duties and had to be heavily encouraged and instructed by her team to take time to rest and recover before putting herself back in the line of danger.
“She is extremely deserving of an award, which is fully supported by all of her colleagues and bosses.”
Rookie officer Katy Mackay arrested a man who had headbutted a colleague and knocked him unconscious.
PC Mackay and PC Dean Gillies were flagged down by a member of the public after a taxi driver was assaulted in Inverness in September last year.
The suspect then attacked both officers, headbutting PC Gillies, but PC Mackay managed to wrestle the suspect to the ground and handcuff him.
Sergeant David McAlpine said: “PC Mackay was still a probationer at the time of the incident with around 18 months of service.
“She showed great reserve and a ‘cool head’ as she managed to gain control of a male who was physically bigger and stronger than her.”
Four Edinburgh police officers – Emma Donoghue, Alistair McLeod, Callum Norris and Carly Parsons – have also been nominated after they were attacked by a man whose life they were trying to save.
The suspect had forced his way into an ex-partner’s home by punching a window. As he climbed through broken glass, the suspect seriously injured his arm and was losing a large amount of blood.
The team attempted to stem the bleeding by applying first aid but the man violently resisted.
During the struggle, he fractured PC Donoghue’s left thigh and ruptured her knee, which left her needing surgery. She managed to keep hold of the suspect despite her own injuries.
Their boss Sergeant Keith Scott said: “Despite the serious injury, Constable Donoghue kept hold of the suspect by restraining him, allowing emergency first aid to be administered, undoubtedly saving his life.”
The other police officer award nominees are Janet Sloan, Jennie MacFarlane, Stuart Cairns, Judson Howie, Mauycy Mikolajewski, Aaron Cheadh, David Clark, Ross Fisher, Rachael Hendry, Christopher Smart, Nikki Smith, David Jones, Ross Cruickshank, Christophe Follan, Liam Hulme, Ruaridh Loughlin and Kyle Brockie.
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