‘Community police shot at me’
Motorist opens case of attempted murder after car windows shattered
AFTER being boxed in by three cars sporting flashing lights and shot at by men clad in security vests, Port Elizabeth security company employee Rudy van Greunen is demanding answers from the Algoa Park community policing forum whose members, he says, shot at him.
And while police spokesman Captain Johann Rheeder said investigations would still reveal whether or not the alleged shooters were community policing forum (CPF) members, he confirmed a case of attempted murder was opened at the Algoa Park police station.
Marius Township resident Van Greunen remains baffled by the situation which unfolded on Friday night at about 10pm.
He said he was left shaken and three windows were shot out of his company’s red Golf as he tried to evade at least 10 men who shot at him from three separate cars.
All of the men allegedly wore neon, branded police bibs.
The security manager at Cras Security said he had dropped off a colleague in Algoa Park moments before the three vehicles surrounded him.
He said the occupants had insisted he pull over. He said: “I stopped at the four way stop in Algoa Park and noticed I was being followed by two Golfs and a Uno.
“As I stopped all three cars turned on flashing lights similar to police [lights] but the light was white like the ones you buy at Midas,” Van Greunen said.
Realising the vehicles were not branded police cars, he continued driving in the direction of Young Park.
“While I was driving, they drove beside with windows down, shouting I must pull over.
“As I stopped at the robots, the first shot went off and went through the back window. I put on my hazards and sped towards my home.”
He alleges the three cars gave chase, firing shots from all three vehicles as they raced towards his Vermooten Street home, where he and his passenger jumped out of the vehicle and raced into his house.
“They were hanging out the side of the cars shooting at us. After we ran into the house they arrived and all of them got out and stood in my yard and fired a few rounds [before] disappearing in their cars. I still don’t know why they shot at us,” Van Greunen said.
Cras Security owner and former policeman Gerrit Cloete said after his employee had told him what had happened he went with Van Greunen to the Algoa Park police station.
“When we pulled into the station they [the alleged perpetrators] were pulling out in the same vehicles,” Cloete said.
“While we were inside the charge office opening a case of attempted murder, malicious damage to property and pointing a firearm in public the group walked into the charge office.
“Rudy identified them, and I insisted they be arrested. But the officer on duty said we should talk the issue out. I refused and demanded that forensics come out and photograph the scene as required.
“The officer’s superior arrived with forensics. In the interim the group left the charge office and took photos of my vehicle registration which puts me at risk as they can now trace ownership details and where I live,” he said.
Cloete claims that police failed to do anything, saying only the men were not real police officers.
“However, regardless of whether or not they are part of a community police forum, they presented themselves as police and asserted themselves in that capacity.
“While in the charge office they were all laughing and joking,” Cloete said.
He went on to say he would also be pursuing a civil claim against the police for damage done to the company vehicle and for pain and suffering experienced by Van Greunen.
Members of the Algoa Park CPF could not be reached for comment.
Police spokesman Rheeder confirmed a case of attempted murder had been opened and was being investigated.
“According to article 49, a policeman or whoever else, is only allowed to shoot at a suspect if his or her life is in immediate danger,” Rheeder said.