Bolton man, 67, stopped and handcuffed by armed police

Peter Coffey said the incident happened at around 2pm on Saturday, March 21, near the junction of Wigan Road in the Deane area, after returning from the shops.

Several armed officers were present (Image: Public)

He said: “They searched me and my bags outside my house.

“It was like something out of America with ICE agents they were dressed all in black, armed, and just seized me.”

Mr Coffey said multiple police vehicles pulled up suddenly before Greater Manchester Police armed officers approached him.

Armed officers reportedly acted on a suspected gun report before releasing the man (Image: Public)

He added: “They pulled up and there were a few vehicles on the junction — next thing, they’re on me.

According to Mr Coffey, officers told him they were acting on reports of a man with a suspected gun and that he “partially resembled” the suspect.

He described the encounter as “absolutely shocking” and said he was grabbed without warning.

“They were all armed, dressed in black, and just grabbed me without saying anything,” he said.

Mr Coffey claims he was handled forcefully and detained in handcuffs for several minutes.

He said: “They were very aggressive.

“They grabbed hold of me with force and handcuffed me. I’m 67 it was frightening.”

He was held for around five minutes before being released, with no further explanation given at the scene.

“They just left onto the next one.” he added.

Mr Coffey later went to a police station to query the incident but said he was left confused by the response he received.

The 67-year-old described the encounter as “frightening” after officers detained him (Image: Public)

He claims the police said there was no record of any report relating to a man with a firearm in the Bolton area and said officers were unable to provide clear answers.

He added: “For someone to have a gun in public is very serious and prompted a rapid response force.

“To then deny it later is confusing.

A number of people contacted The Bolton News saying that police were in the Wigan Road area at the time Mr Coffey says he was stopped by police.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.