Newcastle defender Amar Dedic is unlikely to be punished by his club after he was seen carrying a bow and arrow in the Northumberland countryside, The Guardian reported. The sighting triggered a major police pursuit involving an armed response unit. At one point, six patrol cars followed the Bosnia right-back to his home on the Darras Hall estate, just outside Ponteland.
Northumbria Police said they received a report shortly after 1.55pm on Wednesday. A member of the public had seen two men carrying a bow and arrow on a track by the reservoir on the Military Road, in the Harlow Hill area. Officers later stopped a vehicle in the Darras Hall area. They seized bows and arrows from the boot of the 24-year-old's car.
Police said they were satisfied the equipment was "for recreational use and there was no threat to the public". They added that inquiries were ongoing. Hunting animals with bows and arrows or crossbows is illegal in the UK. However, The Guardian said there is no suggestion that Dedic or his friend were out hunting.
Two familiar faces turned up by chance. Newcastle's fourth-choice goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and former full-back Paul Dummett were passing Dedic's home. They saw police on his driveway and stopped to help. According to The Guardian, the pair are understood to have helped calm the situation, and Dedic is believed to be grateful.
Newcastle are understood to believe Dedic acted "naively", the paper reported. Dedic joined from Benfica in the summer for £29.5 million. He is expected to start Saturday's match at Fulham.