One man shot after police chase bakkie
ONE man was wounded and two others nabbed while trying to escape following a high-speed vehicle chase with police in Port Elizabeth yesterday.
The incident happened at 11am, when Flying Squad members saw a white Nissan bakkie with no licence plates in Stanford Road, Korsten.
The police followed the bakkie when the driver and two passengers started looking around, police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.
“One of the passengers pulled out a firearm and pointed it towards the police in the vehicle behind them.
“The men refused to pull over when warned and a chase ensued.
“Police opened fire on the bakkie in an attempt to stop the driver,” she said.
“The suspects, however, did not return fire.”
Naidu said the bakkie came to a halt on a grass patch near Marock Road, Bethelsdorp, after the driver attempted to get away by leaving the road.
“The bakkie came to a stop and the three men jumped out and ran away,” she said. “A foot chase ensued and one of the suspects was shot in the lower back by the police, resulting in him dropping the firearm.”
All three men were arrested within minutes of the shooting.
“Police confiscated the firearm,” Naidu said.
“Detectives are profiling the men to determine if they are linked to any outstanding criminal cases.”
The bakkie was impounded and the firearm sent to the ballistic unit.
“It is not known why the men pointed the firearm at the police, but failed to shoot,” Naidu said. “It is possible that it had jammed. “Ballistics will test the firearm to determine if it was stolen and if there was a mechanical fault.”
The bakkie was reported stolen near Mount Road earlier this month.
A case of attempted murder is being investigated, as well as the pointing of a firearm and the illegal possession of both a firearm and ammunition.
All three men are due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Monday.