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Cape Argus reports that a deadly drama unfolded at Mfuleni police station on Tuesday after a police officer who was about to be arrested allegedly shot and killed himself after scuffling with fellow officers.
The officer, who belonged to the Kuils River visible policing unit (Vispol), was to have been arrested for alleged theft of ammunition. The incident report compiled by the unit commander said that while another officer was seated at the counter, the suspect grabbed his service pistol out of his holster and cocked the firearm. The officer got up and a scuffle between the two occurred. Another officer joined in and tried to disarm the suspect when a shot went off and the suspect fell to the ground. “The suspect shot himself under the chin, and was transported by ambulance to the hospital and was later declared deceased. A theft of the firearm case was then opened,” the report advised. Criminologist Guy Lamb said: “When it comes to the arrest of police, it is up to the arresting officer to determine the risk an individual might pose; if someone in their view is not posing a risk, they might not cuff them immediately or put them in holding cells.” He added: “I think it was really poor judgement on the part of the police officers. The suspect might have been calm, and showed no signs of wanting to grab the firearm, hence they thought it wasn’t necessary for them to cuff him, but I think it does underscore the need to be very cautious and take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the arresting officers, and the safety of the suspect are ensured in these kind of cases.” SA Police and Allied Workers’ Union (Sapawu) president Bonga Makuliwe appealed to police officers, when making arrests, to follow the arrest procedures at all times.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisonke Mlamla at Cape Argus
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