Cause of Nigerian man’s death to be investigated
The Nigerian man who collapsed after being pulled over by police officers yesterday (January 24), died while being transported to the Tambo Memorial Hospital.
Benoni SAPS acting station commander Col Martin van Nieuwenhuizen confirmed to the City Times this morning that the suspect died and there will be an investigation into the death.
The man, believed to be 25 years old, was pulled over in a motor vehicle by two police officers from the K9 unit, who were in full uniform and in a marked vehicle, on Tom Jones Street, in the Benoni CBD, yesterday afternoon.
Police said yesterday that the man suffered an asthma attack when he was pulled over.
“He was suspected of carrying illegal substances and pulled over for questioning,” said WO Ramothakhi Maqabe.
However, the Benoni Community Police Forum (CPF) reported on its Facebook page last night that the suspect ingested drugs and ran away from the scene shortly after the police stopped him.
Friends of the suspect apparently gave the victim cold drinks to prevent him from overdosing.
A toxicology report to determine the cause of death will be conducted this week.
“No criminal charges have been laid, but an inquest docket has been opened,” said van Nieuwenhuizen.
There was a huge police presence outside the Benoni Police Station in Harpur Avenue late after the incident as a large crowd of Nigerians gathered awaiting information on the death of the man.
A metro police officer fired a warning shot to calm the disturbance.
A police helicopter was seen overhead to monitor the situation.
According to the Benoni CPF facebook page the crowd, which was addressed by Col van Nieuwenhuizen and acting cluster commander Brig Poobalan Subbiah, dispersed.
