A pharmacist in Stoke-on-Trent has released footage of a terrifying incident in which a man suspected of being high on the drug monkey dust was wrestled to the ground by staff. The video shows the man becoming increasingly agitated as he paces up and down Norfolk Street Pharmacy in Hanley before barging behind the counter.
Pharmacist Navid Kaleem, 45, said the man was 'singing some kind of poems and rhymes' before the confrontation. Staff managed to restrain him on the floor for 15 minutes until police arrived on Friday, September 26. Mr Kaleem said the man was 'quite a strapping guy' and that patients were terrified, but luckily no one was injured.
Mr Kaleem described monkey dust as 'destroying' the city and released the footage to raise awareness. The ultra-addictive substance, costing just £2, can trigger days-long psychotic episodes. While relatively unknown across the UK, it is extremely popular in Stoke-on-Trent and the West Midlands.
A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said officers responded within 30 minutes and a man was taken to hospital. No formal complaint was made regarding any offences. Stoke-on-Trent City Council stated they are working proactively with partners to tackle addiction and create a healthier city.
