Senior E Cape officer in k-word drama

A SENIOR police officer in the VIP protection unit is in hot water after a

case was opened against him last week.

Michelle Quilie, 35, a Breidbach mother of four, this week opened the case alleging racial abuse had been hurled at her by the policeman, who is attached to the King William’s Town VIP protection unit.

She says Sergeant Lorenzo Thompson used the k-word against her during a heated argument on Monday.

Thompson on Friday confirmed that a case had been opened against him, but he vehemently denied using the word. He accused Quilie of fabricating the story and said he would be countersuing for perjury.

Quilie opened the case at the King William’s Town police station on Monday claiming an argument over the use of a community hall in Breidbach had become abusive.

Quilie said that during a meeting of the Breidbach Homeseekers Association on Monday Thompson had launched an “unprovoked tirade of racial abuse”, peppered with the kword, towards her.

Thompson is a SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) executive committee member in the area.

Quilie said her ordeal started when a group of home-seeking residents wanted to use the local hall for their meeting on Monday.

She said Thompson was one of those who wanted to prevent the group from using the hall.

“He yelled at us saying we should vacate the hall and we refused. I replied saying it was a municipal hall and we could use it anytime we want, and he yelled racial insults towards me, while he also used the k-word repeatedly,” said Quilie.

“In this day and age you cannot be calling people such derogatory names.”

Thompson said the case was fabricated and as soon as he saw the police docket he would be opening a counter charge of perjury against her.

Attempts to get comment from the police were unsuccessful.