Trio arrested for assaulting JMPD officers

Suspects allegedly also hurled racial slurs at cops

Three men have been arrested for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after attacking and punching Johannesburg metropolitan police department (JMPD) officers yesterday.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the two officers were taken to Milpark Hospital for medical treatment after sustaining injuries to the face and arms.

According to Fihla, while driving to work in a private vehicle, two JMPD officers stopped next to a white Volkswagen Amarok single-cab bakkie at a red traffic light at corner Heidelberg and Van Wyk Louw roads in Elandspark, south of Johannesburg.

“The male driver and two male passengers from the bakkie started insulting them in a derogatory manner, yelling racial slurs. The officers ignored them, and when the traffic light turned green both vehicles moved.

“As the vehicles were moving, the passengers from the bakkie threw empty alcohol bottles at the officers’ vehicle.”

The two vehicles stopped and the officers approached the bakkie to find out what their problem was,” he said.

But the driver and passengers attacked them. Fihla said a security patrol service in the area witnessed the altercation and came to the officers’ assistance.

“They managed to restrain and arrest two males while one male managed to flee in the Amarok bakkie.

“The officers called for backup, and the third male suspect was traced and arrested at his residence,” he said. –