WATCH: Man throws roof tiles at SAPS officers

A 30-year-old man caused chaos at the Etwatwa SAPS on March 28 at about 14:30 when he climbed onto the administration building’s roof and threw down roof tiles, vandalising the structure.

Witnesses described the scene as tense when officers tried to calm the man, who continuously threw tiles at the officers and medical personnel until late into the evening.

According to Etwatwa SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Barbra Ndaba, the man, who had two Okapi knives on him, ran to the police station, alleging someone was chasing him.

“While officers attended to him, he suddenly ran wildly at speed and climbed onto the wall leading to the roof. When officers ordered him to come down, he said he was tired of living and wanted to kill himself,” said Ndaba.

She added that a SAPS hostage negotiator, an ambulance, and three emergency vehicles were called to the scene. Despite efforts to convince him to come down, the man remained on the roof, acting aggressively and threatening to stab himself.

“Public Order Policing Unit members were also called to the scene, and they responded with rubber bullets in an attempt to stop him. He then jumped off the roof and fled. Officers gave chase, but he outran them,” said Ndaba.

With the assistance of the community, who alerted the police to his whereabouts, he was arrested on March 30.

The man faces a case of malicious damage to property, and it remains unclear whether he was under the influence of any substances or having a mental health episode.

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