Metro Police arrest five suspects

By Mishkah Anthony
16 February 2009

Immediate action by Metro police led to the arrest of five suspects on Saturday morning in Sea Point.

During routine patrols early on Saturday morning, Metro Police officers spotted a suspicious looking white minibus with tinted windows ignoring the stop sign at the intersection of Worcester and Beach Road, Sea Point.

The driver of the minibus ignored instructions to stop and sped off in the direction of the Eastern Boulevard. After a high speed chase ensued and the patrol vehicle catching up with the suspects in the minibus, the occupants threw a motor cycle out of the minibus.

Metro Police Spokesperson Nowellen Petersen says, “The motor cycle nearly collided with the patrol vehicle and the officers fired rubber rounds in an attempt to stop the vehicle”

Eventually the driver pulled over on the elevated freeway, where five occupants, including the driver, were arrested and taken to the Sea Point police station. Amongst those arrested were two under age children, one male and one female.

The suspects were charged with attempted murder, possession of a possible stolen motor cycle, reckless and negligent driving as well as resisting arrest.

It is alleged that two of the suspects are linked to other crimes involving the possession of narcotics and an unlicensed firearm as well as housebreaking.

Petersen adds that, “The Metro Police welcomes the arrests, particularly in the light of the current trend where motor cycles are being targeted. The arrest of the five suspects further shows that we as enforcement agencies cannot be too lenient when it comes to minor traffic offences, as in most cases they lead to more serious crime.”