This shocking bodycam footage captures the moment a drug-dealer tries to evade arrest – by repeatedly punching a police officer and incapacitating him with a Pava spray.
Shaxawan Beker, 26, was chased through the streets of Peterborough on foot by officers who suspected he was involved in drug dealing.
But when police eventually caught up with him after he had thrown away a package containing £12,300 worth of cocaine, an enraged Beker held one of the officers down and began furiously punching him.
He grabbed hold of the officer’s Pava – an incapacitant – and sprayed it in his eyes during the attack in September 2021.
Beker of Bretton, Cambridgeshire, admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine, assault with intent to resist arrest, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis.
Shazawan Beker, 26, was filmed repeatedly punching and using incapacitant spray on an officer after he was caught in drug dealing Peterborough
At Cambridge Crown court, Beker was sentenced to three and a half years in prison
He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court last Friday.
But the footage of his arrest has now released by Cambridgeshire Police.
Det Con Gordon Logan said: ‘Thankfully, the officer did not sustain any serious injuries. However, this was an incredibly frightening incident.’
Officers from the Neighbourhood Support Team were on routine patrols in Peterborough on the evening of September, 2021, when they came across a red Audi A3 causing an obstruction.
The car was parked on double yellow lines and blocking the road so one officer went to speak with the driver – 34-year-old Soran Abdullah – when he noticed what looked like cling film wraps of drugs in the footwell.
Beker, a passenger in the vehicle, then ran off and was chased by another officer who warned him he had a Taser and to stop running.
He was seen to throw a package, later confirmed to be up to £12,300 worth of cocaine, into the front garden of a nearby house, before the officer caught up with him.
The pair struggled with each other, prompting the officer to press the emergency assistance button on his police radio, however Beker managed to force him to the ground.
Police bodycam footage captured Beker as he tried to evade officers, and then launched a furious attack after he was caught
Despite the officer using his Pava, Beker repeatedly punched the officer in the face.
He also attempted to grab hold of his Taser but was unsuccessful so grabbed the Pava and sprayed it directly in the officer’s eyes.
Officers came to his aid and detained Beker, also recovering the package he threw nearby.
A further package containing up to about £2,500 worth of cocaine was found in the red Audi, along with boxes of illegal cigarettes, resulting in Abdullah’s arrest.
Abdullah, of Orton Longueville, was handed a two-year conditional discharge and must pay £1,000 in costs after previously admitting two counts of possession of cocaine and acquiring criminal property, namely a large quantity of cigarettes on which duty had not been paid.
DC Logan added: ‘Beker knew he was in trouble as he had a substantial amount of class A drugs on him, and it was clear he wanted to do anything he could to avoid arrest.
‘As police officers, we accept there is an increased level of risk each day we come into work – it is our duty to protect the public from people like Beker. However, it is not acceptable to be assaulted in the line of duty.
‘The incident drew a large crowd and while many people stood and filmed, there were a few people who came to the officers’ aid and helped – I would like to thank those people for the compassion they showed and assistance.’
