Handcuffed suspect escapes after residents attack law enforcement
A CRIMINAL is on the loose after a group of residents from the T-Block Section in Bonteheuwel thwarted an arrest and attacked law enforcement, making a way for the man to escape.
The officers came under fire on Wednesday morning from residents who were defending a suspect from being arrested for a shooting that recently took place in Teak Road.
According to ward councillor Angus McKenzie, law enforcement officials immediately responded to a community tip-off and when they arrived on the scene they apprehended the suspect and found a loaded firearm in his possession.
It was after the man was arrested that the group attacked the officers with stones. The man reportedly fled the scene still in handcuffs.
McKenzie said that while this was not a reflection of the entire T-Block community of Bonteheuwel, the greater community must strongly condemn the actions of certain individuals who openly defended a known suspect and furthermore stoned and attacked police officers in the process of arresting the individual.
“I want to appeal to the greater community to hold those individuals accountable who protect gangsters and who fight those wishing to help us make our community safer. This sort of behaviour is disgusting.”
McKenzie also commended the officers for their restraint in dealing with the “tense situation”, and those who provided the tip-off and advised on the whereabouts of the suspect.
City law enforcement spokesperson
Wayne Dyason said when the officers stopped, the suspect ran away, and during the ensuing chase, he discarded a firearm that he had in his possession. Dyson said officers managed to secure the firearm, and while trying to arrest the suspect, the community became riotous and started stoning them.
He said no officers were injured, and no City vehicles were damaged.
“The firearm, a Glock 9mm pistol, with 19 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber, was secured and handed over to investigators,” he said.