PE cop’s car used in ‘armed robbery’

Detective arrested over vehicle misuse while ‘socialising’ at gangsters’ hangout

IN a shock weekend arrest, a highly regarded Port Elizabeth police detective found himself on the wrong side of the law after a police vehicle assigned to him was allegedly used in an armed robbery.

And, in a dramatic twist to the tale of a good cop allegedly gone bad, the detective sergeant was arrested while “socialising” at a house in Bethelsdorp known to be frequented by a well-known Bay gang, the Spotbouers, in the early hours of Saturday.

The Spotbouers are regarded as among Port Elizabeth’s top four and biggest gangs.

The detective is not being named until he appears in court today.

Outlining the events which led to the arrest of the 37year-old detective, Port Elizabeth police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said three women had allegedly been robbed of their handbags and personal belongings at the traffic lights in Ngunga Street in Motherwell on Friday evening.

“It was established that a police vehicle was involved in the robbery,” Naidu said.

“Four suspects, who were in possession of the police vehicle, were arrested at a petrol station in Motherwell.

“They were detained on a charge of being in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle.”

She said further investigations had revealed that a sergeant from the Kabega Park Police Station had failed to book the vehicle – an unmarked car – back in at the station at 4pm.

“During the early hours of Saturday morning, the detective sergeant was arrested at a house in Extension 31 in Bethelsdorp.

“He was detained for using a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.

“However, further charges may be added at a later stage. The departmental investigation into the incident will run concurrently with the criminal investigation,” Naidu said.

Reacting to a number of reports around the incident posted on social media over the past 24 hours, Naidu said that the posted statements would also be investigated.

These include a post which alleged the detective had “lent an unmarked police car, which was fitted with a police radio, to a member or members of the Kakmakers gang to supposedly commit a robbery” and that the detective allegedly then went braaiing and drinking with them.

The same post maintained the policeman was arrested at a “drug post” in Bethelsdorp.

“We will investigate the statements posted onto social media sites,” Naidu said.

“And we will also be investigating all connections that come to mind around the incident, which will include any connection the detective had to the house and the people there and any connection the sergeant may have had with those arrested while in possession of the police vehicle.”

She said the detective was being held at the Mount Road Police Station and was expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court today.

“While the South African Police Service continuously strives to root out corruption within the organisation as well as sensitise members on the importance of abiding by the Code of Conduct and to act at all times within the parameters of the law, there are still employees involved in or associated in criminal activities and/or elements,” she said.

Weighing in on the arrest, Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga said police officials associating with criminal elements would be harshly dealt with.

“Members must work with integrity and refrain from any form of corrupt activities. We are committed to zero tolerance in this province on corruption,” Ntshinga said.

Widely described as a veteran detective, the sergeant made headlines during late 2011 when the first high court murder trial he investigated resulted in six life sentences and several additional sentences.

The policeman, who at the time was a member of a team tasked with investigating cold cases in the Booysen Park area dating back to 2009, brought three suspects – who had been dubbed as the “Lover’s Lane Killers” – to book.

The convicted killers had preyed on couples in the parking lot of the Booysen Park Community Centre.

Three years earlier, in 2008, the policeman’s work had been noted after he was involved in the arrest of a foreign clergyman who allegedly robbed a woman and her two children in the Port Elizabeth city centre.

In 2012, the detective was dubbed an “angel” by both the media and members of the public for his sensitivity and handling of an investigation into the gruesome kidnapping, attempted murder and rape case of Avril Gordon, who was brutalised by her estranged husband and former military officer, Frederick Gordon.

In an interview with The Herald at the time, the hardened investigator revealed he had been shocked by the case.

His handling of the case elicited letters of praise which were published in the media.

In early 2014, the sergeant again made headlines when another domestic violence complaint led to the discovery of a large cache of unlicensed firearms and nearly 6 000 rounds of live ammunition in the Van Stadens area.

The case involved another former member of the military.

Also in 2014, the detective’s work was again hailed in the investigation of a gardener who was later convicted of bludgeoning a 70-year-old Theescombe resident to death in 2011.

The detective sergeant was detained for using a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent