Man disguised as officer jailed after ‘opening fire’ on armed police

A 25-year-old man who opened fire on armed police officers with an imitation weapon whilst dressed as a fake police officer has been jailed for three years.

Hari Mann was arrested in Braunstone Town, Leicester, after confronting armed response units with what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon in a pub car park.

The incident came to an end when officers realised Mann was firing blank rounds, leading to his swift arrest using a Taser.

Mann had earlier pointed a firearm at a member of the public before turning his weapon on police who arrived at the scene.

The confrontation took place in June last year, with Mann receiving his sentence at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Officers were first alerted to the incident at 9.57am on June 4 when Mann drove his Mercedes Sprinter van into a pub car park and began emptying its contents.

When challenged by a member of the public, Mann pulled out a handgun, prompting the armed response unit to be dispatched.

Upon arrival, officers found Mann wearing a luminous vest and brandishing what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon.

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After Mann opened fire on the officers, quick-thinking police personnel identified that the weapon was firing blanks.

Officers successfully subdued Mann with a Taser when he attempted to flee the scene, leading to his arrest at 10.15am.

Several nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution due to concerns about the contents of Mann’s van.

A subsequent search of Mann’s home uncovered an extensive collection of police-style equipment purchased from an online auction site.

Officers discovered a handgun alongside police uniforms and handcuffs during the property search.

Investigators also found two vehicles linked to Mann – a Ford Mustang and Ford C-Max – which had been modified with sirens and blue light equipment.

Detective Inspector Hazel Sandall of Leicestershire Police said: “The items uncovered by officers as the investigation progressed were deeply concerning.”

The discovery of these items led to Mann being charged with impersonating a police officer, among other offences.

In October, Mann appeared at Leicester Crown Court where he entered guilty pleas to multiple charges.

These included six counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and one count of impersonating a police officer.

He also pleaded guilty to modifying an imitation firearm and assaulting an emergency worker.

Detective Inspector Sandall praised the swift police response following Mann’s sentencing, stating: “This was an incident that resulted in a fast-paced policing response and had a significant impact on the local community.”

“While his weapon contained blank rounds, the fact he was still prepared to pull the trigger at armed officers makes me truly believe he wanted to cause fear of serious harm to the public and police,” she added.

“This is not something which we will tolerate and, as our officers and staff showed, we will take immediate action to ensure our communities remain protected and safe.”