A driver is facing a charge of attempted murder after he knocked over a Metro police officer while trying to evade arrest.
The Metro police constable sustained a fractured foot and arm after having been run over by the driver of a vehicle that he was pursuing in Wespoort Drive.
The Metro police gang and drug task team received information about the location of a vehicle that had been linked to several reported house break-ins.
They were also informed that the vehicle might have been stolen.
Cops followed up on this information and spotted the vehicle in Wespoort Drive. They tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused and while trying to get away, he knocked over an officer before heading into oncoming traffic. A second officer had to dive out of the way to avoid being hit.
The driver has been arrested and is facing an attempted murder charge as well as possession of suspected stolen property, reckless and negligent driving including child endangerment; and is being detained at Mitchell’s Plain SAPS.
“I call on the criminal justice system to mete out the harshest possible sentence as the driver attempted to run over a second Metro Police officer while trying to evade capture. It is also important to note that he had two minors in the vehicle with him of which the youngest was just three years old,” said the City’s mayoral committee member for safety and security and social services, JP Smith.
“Incidences such as this is an indication of the danger that our staff face on an all too regular basis, but despite this, they continue to enforce the law and make arrests. In the past week, the Traffic Service and Metro Police Department arrested 149 suspects,” said Mr Smith.
The Cape Town Traffic Service issued 2 306 fines and arrested 95 suspects on the roads of which 72 were arrested for drunk driving. The Transport Enforcement Unit impounded 30 public transport vehicles during operations in Bellville, Mitchell’s Plain and the Cape Town CBD.
The Metro police department arrested 54 suspects, including a number of drunk drivers. One nearly caused a collision and drove off, but a member of the public flagged down a passing Metro police officer who tracked down the vehicle and arrested the driver for driving under the influence. Another was spotted driving on the wrong side of Jakes Gerwel Drive by officers on patrol in the area.
“The City of Cape Town appreciates the efforts of those members of the public who contribute to the fight against crime by sharing information that has the potential to lead to successes like these. It underscores the reality that crime fighting is a shared responsibility that needs everyone to pitch in if we are to reduce our crime rates and make communities safer,” said Mr Smith.