A car chase which started in the central business district on Friday led to the arrest of two suspects after they had crashed into a ditch while trying to escape from the metro police.
Two stolen cars, an unlicensed firearm and fake metro police uniform were found in their possession.
According to Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesman, officers were reacting on a tip off. He said six men, carrying bags, were spotted swapping cars at 10.30am on Voortrekker Road.
“They got out of a white Peugeot 200s sedan and into a silver VW Golf VI and drove off. Intervention unit members conducted a stake out on the Peugeot and within an hour the silver Golf returned with two male occupants,” Kgasago said.
“When the metro police instructed the vehicles to stop, the Peugeot driver abandoned his vehicle and tried to bolt on foot but was apprehended.”
Kgasago says the Golf driver took off, ignoring the sirens and blue lights from the metro police. “The metro police were able to arrest the driver when he lost control and landed in a ditch at the intersection of Great North and Atlas roads. His attempt to flee on foot failed as the metro police caught him.”
In the Golf, on the rear passenger seat, metro police officers found a 9mm Taurus pistol loaded with 19 live rounds with its serial number filed off, a jammer, three reflective jackets, two blue shirts, two blue caps, a brown belt and a wallet with a shield.
The pair, aged 26 and 28, were charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of a metro police uniform (impersonating the metro police), possession of implements used in stealing vehicles and possession of suspected stolen vehicles, with a further added charge of reckless and negligent driving to the VW Golf suspect.
The two appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
