A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after using a military vehicle to smash through a police blockade.
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 10, after officers attended an address in Norton Fitzwarren at 4.40 pm. Police were responding to reports of a man making threats and causing damage to the property.
When officers arrived the suspect fled the scene in what police have described as a 'large military truck' before crashing trough two police cars which were being used to blockade the road.
No police officers or members of the public were hurt in the incident.
The suspect then drove the vehicle onto the A361 M5 overbridge where he alighted and climbed over the railings.
A number of lorry drivers then staged an 'excellent intervention' after parking their HGVs below the bridge in order to safeguard the individual.
A spokesperson for the National Police Air Service, which assisted in the operation, said: "We deployed our Exeter aircraft to assist Avon and Somerset Police with a person in crisis on the M5 at Taunton.
"Excellent intervention by officers on scene means male is now safe. Fantastic to see HGV drivers offering to help with their lorries to safeguard the person - thank you."
The suspect was arrested 25 minutes after arriving on the bridge and charged with attempted murder.
He remains in police custody.
The incident prompted a multi-agency response, with the deployment of police air and ground assets as well as the Fire Brigade.