UPDATE
A TAMWORTH man is behind bars, accused of grabbing a customer by the throat and trying to grab a police officer's gun after a stoush over toilet paper.
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The 50-year-old is alleged to have assaulted a Big W worker, and a female customer before attacking and resisting police in Tamworth on Thursday morning.
The violent confrontation unfolded in the Big W store in Tamworth Shoppingworld about 10am when police said the man became aggressive after the store ran out of toilet paper supplies.
Police claim the 50-year-old chucked boxes of tissues at a female staff member and walked off.
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A customer approached the man when he allegedly grabbed her around the throat, before another customer intervened to help.
No one was injured.
The man left the store and went to the nearby Woolworths supermarket where he was tracked by police.
Police said when the officers approached him and attempted to arrest him, he allegedly resisted and lashed out.
Police claim the man attempted to put one of the officers into a headlock and grasped at the other's police firearm.
Officers said they were forced to deploy a taser to arrest the man. He was then taken to Tamworth police station where he was treated by paramedics as a precaution.
After being questioned, the 50-year-old man was charged with two counts each of common assault; resisting police; and assaulting an officer in the execution of their duty.
He was refused bail by police and will spend the night in custody before fronting a bail hearing in Tamworth Local Court on Friday morning.
On Thursday, a Big W spokesperson said it was business as usual after the incident.
"We're aware of an incident in our Tamworth BIG W store earlier today," the spokesperson said.
"Police were called in response to the incident by store security. None of our team members were injured in the incident.
"The store remains open and is trading as normal."
EARLIER
A MAN has been tasered during a violent arrest, after allegedly assaulting staff and a customer in a Tamworth store after a dispute over toilet paper.
The 50-year-old man is in custody at Tamworth police station and is being questioned by officers after the alleged assault inside Tamworth Shoppingworld on Thursday morning.
Police were called to the centre just after 10am after reports a staff member and a customer had been assaulted by a man.
It's believed the argument was over toilet paper in the store, as stocks run out because of concerns about coronavirus, or covid-19.
"Police have been told a 50-year-old man began to argue with a staff members and another customer before he assaulted them at a department store in Bridge Street," a NSW Police spokesperson confirmed.
"Officers attended and during the man's arrest, he was tasered.
"He was then taken to Tamworth police station where he is assisting police with their inquiries."
No charges have been laid.
Shelves are empty across several stores in Tamworth, and the state, as fears spread about coronavirus.
The country's chief medical officer, health authorities and both the state and federal governments have urged the public to remain calm and refrain from bulk-buying toilet paper in stores and supermarkets, with no shortage of the product in Australia.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
