Anthony Underwood, 27, smashed in the side door of Bedford police station before running off into a busy road waving a three foot long machete and hammer. <br /><br />CCTV footage released by Bedfordshire police show unarmed officers streaming out of the station in pursuit of Underwood to try to protect shoppers from potential injury. <br /><br />The incident ended with a flying rugby tackle by Sgt Phil Boyd, who decided to try to bring Underwood under control when the weapons were suddenly dropped in front of him. <br /><br />In interview later on in the day, Underwood told officers after being arrested that he was desperate to go to prison to try to kick a £300 per day cocaine habit and thought that his actions would get him there. <br /><br />Superintendent Rob McCaffray said he was, "exceptionally proud" of the officers, adding, "they acted in the best traditions of the British police service. Unarmed, some without so much as a coat or uniform to protect themselves, they selflessly and instantaneously put themselves between good and evil." <br /><br />"Some later recounted how frightened they were; for themselves, their colleagues and the public. That is the definition of real courage -- realising the danger but continuing to protect the public anyway. It's clearly illustrated on the CCTV and their actions probably prevented serious injury or damage elsewhere in the town." <br /><br />Get the latest headlines http://www.telegraph.co.uk/<br /><br />Subscribe to The Telegraph http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=telegraphtv<br /><br />Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/telegraph.co.uk<br />Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/telegraph<br />Follow us on Google+ https://plus.google.com/102891355072777008500/<br /><br />Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Daily Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.
