Municipal staffer injured as suspect tries to run him over
Police are investigating a case of attempted murder after a suspected thief in a vehicle tried to run over a municipal employee.
This is according to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp.
The employee was injured in the incident and treated in hospital, Kapp said.
Mossel Bay Municipality noted: “Two municipal traffic officials were injured at the municipal pound in Schoeman Street, Heiderand, on Sunday, 31 July, when they came across two suspects perpetrating crime at about 07:00 and confronted them.
“One of the officials was run over by a vehicle during the perpetrators’ attempt to flee and the other was injured while trying to take cover.
“Both officials were taken to hospital for treatment and have since been discharged,” the municipality noted.
“Municipal councillor Leon van Dyk, portfolio chairman for Community Safety and Henry Williamson, head of Law Enforcement, visited the officials in hospital before they were discharged,” the municipality stated.
“We are proud of our law enforcement officials’ efforts to support the South African Police Service where they can, to fight crime,” said Van Dyk.
“We are grateful our officials did not sustain injuries of a more serious nature, but it necessitates a greater effort and vigilance to keep our people out of harm’s way,” said the municipal manager, Colin Puren.
Kapp confirmed that the police were called to a “possible theft”.
He said that on arrival the police found a municipal traffic officer, who reported to them that he “responded to an incident of attempted theft”. Kapp said: “He was wounded when he interrupted the unknown suspect. While fleeing, one suspect discharged a firearm and the other bumped him with a car - tried to run him over,” Kapp said.
Mossel Bay Police Station detectives are “investigating a case of attempted murder”, Kapp noted.
He said Sergeant Mtini was the investigating officer.