A man is in custody after attempting to shoot two Narcotics Policemen with a semi-automatic pistol on Court Street yesterday morning.

And Police have made a substantial cocaine haul at a Pond Hill address believed to be that of the 25-year-old Pembroke suspect.

He was spotted doing a suspected drugs deal on the corner of Dundonald and Court Street but ran north on Court Street when Police approached shortly after 7 a.m.

One source close to the incident said two officers were trying to subdue the suspect when he produced a 9mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol and pulled the trigger of the loaded gun three times. It did not fire.

At a Press conference at the scene yesterday, Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith said: ?Two of our narcotics officers were confronted by a loaded firearm this gentleman was carrying. An attempt was made to discharge the firearm.

?Fortunately the firearm did not discharge and after a violent struggle a 25-year-old Pembroke man was arrested.?

Mr. Smith added: ?Our officers were somewhat traumatised by this incident. I think it spells out two things. One ? the courage of our officers. This is the type of policing activity we are encountering in Bermuda and I want to commend the officers for the courage they have displayed.

?Secondly, for those in the community who question the resolve of the Police, this demonstrates our commitment to enforcing the law.

?It?s a difficult Policing environment but our officers are rising to the occasion and showing courage.

?It?s one more firearm that has been removed from the streets as a result of our activity.?

The Ruger 9mm is the second most popular weapon used in crimes in the US according to Time magazine?s website.

At $300-400 it is cheaper than many and usually carries an ammunition clip of ten rounds.

However understands even at close range the bullet would not penetrate the high quality body armour available to Bermuda?s Police.

Mr. Smith said the officers yesterday were unarmed but wearing those vests.

?We strongly encourage officers to use them. This type of incident demonstrates the need for officers to exercise good judgement but it?s not mandatory.?

Three other officers assisted with the arrest.

He could not say whether accomplices were involved or why the gun did not fire.

?We are going to have it looked at by our firearms experts.?

Police recovered drugs on the scene but would not name the substance or the amount.

Commissioner Smith said the incident showed the strong association between street level drug dealing and firearms.

The suspect is in custody but a court date has yet to be set.

Attempted murder carries a 20-year maximum jail term while possession of an illegal firearm carries an additional ten-year maximum sentence.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Randy Horton said he was appalled by the incident.

He said Government was grateful for the brave and professional Policemen who dealt with the incident.

?I would like to bring some comfort to the man in the street that Government stands firm in supporting Police in their efforts to stamp out the kinds of incidents that happened this morning,? he said.

?If acts like this morning take place, the Police are not afraid. The Police will be there in their face and will bring justice.

?I want to commend the Police for being as brave as they are and standing up because the criminal element want to have control.

?We are determined in this country the criminal element is not going to run the country and be in control. That?s what we are fighting for.?

He said the time had not yet come to arm ordinary beat officers but he said the Police did have an armed unit which could be deployed when necessary.

Opposition Home Affairs and Public Safety spokesman Maxwell Burgess called for the full gravity of the law to apply if the case is proved against the suspect.

?It?s the Police we ask to be in the frontline on the war on drugs, those soldiers of us who stand behind them must support them 100 percent.?

Recalling other incidents Commissioner Smith said a Policeman was shot at his house and seriously injured in 1985 while there was an incident in Devonshire several months ago where a gun was pointed at Police which sparked the gun amnesty late last year.

That trawl netted three firearms, 179 rounds of ammunition and an unusable rocket launcher.

Crimestoppers Regional Co-ordinator Alex MacDonald appealed for the public to call his organisation to report firearms. The confidential calls, handled overseas, can be made on 1-800-623-8477.