Community assist traffic officers for arresting suspects

By Khanyisa Tabata
28 July 2009

What would have been a quiet Friday morning traffic patrol resulted in a high speed chase of two occupants of a BMW who had just robbed a member of the public at gunpoint.

The BMW then hit a pedestrian who later died of her injuries and intentionally tried to run down Traffic Officer May when he attempted to stop them.

“The vehicle was spotted at Khayelitsha Mall and a chase ensued. With the officers in hot pursuit, the BMW collided with the traffic vehicle in an attempt to run it off the road”.

“The suspects then fled on foot with the traffic officers hot on their heels said Inspector Merle Lourens spokesperson for the Cape Town Traffic Services.

A member of the public who tried to assist was threatened by one of the suspects with a firearm. He hastily retreated and then used his car to run the man down.

The community in the area assisted the officers in arresting the other suspect who managed to get as far as the town centre.

“The suspects were handed over to the SAPS in Mitchells Plain and driven to SAPS Harare where a docket was opened. They have been charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, theft, pointing of a firearm and reckless or negligent driving,” Lourens said