UPDATE: Cresslawn man’s sister: ‘I was expecting to say goodbye to him but didn’t’ (video)

A Cresslawn man (34) was arrested for assault on Tuesday evening after a six-hour stand-off with police.

During this time he threatened a SPCA employee with a knife, assaulted a police officer with a pipe and threatened to kill himself.

The officer was treated for wounds to his face before ER24 paramedics took him to hospital.

According to Capt Lesibana Molokomme, spokesperson for Norkem Park SAPS, the incident started around 1pm when Kempton Park SPCA officers attended to the scene, following reports of animal abuse.

“A dead dog was found in the yard and they proceeded into the house,” Molokomme said. He did not comment on the state of the dog.

However, a metro police officer on the scene painted a gruesome picture.

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• BREAKING: Police in 5-hour stand-off with knife-wielding Cresslawn man (video)

“It appeared as if the dog’s legs were broken and its throat was slit,” he said. “It had to have been there for a while, as the blood was dry.”

The officer believed the dog was a poodle, but police could not confirm this.

The man refused to leave the premises.

As the scene became darker, a fire engine arrived to supply light. This enabled the tactical response team that arrived on the scene at about 7pm, to enter the suspect’s home.

Shortly after 7pm, officers appeared with the man, who was dressed in short pyjama pants. He struggled as officers escorted him to the ER24 ambulance, where he was tied to a stretcher and sedated.

As this played out, the suspect’s sister Isabel stood close by, watching her brother being taken away.

“Thank you to everybody who was here,” she told Express, fighting back tears. “I was expecting to say goodbye to him but didn’t. He needs help and I did what I had to do.”

Molokomme said he was taken to hospital and would be charged with assaulting a police officer as soon as doctors confirmed in what state of mind he was. It is in the hands of the SPCA to file charges about the dog, he added.

Kira Sparrow, manager of the SPCA, told Express she could not comment on the situation, as it is an on-going investigation.

Curious neighbours, some dressed in pyjamas, lined the street as the event played out. One neighbour, who wished to stay anonymous, used to work with the suspect.

“We used to walk all the way to work together about three years ago, and he was OK. I was surprised to hear this because he was never violent.”

Another neighbour, who also wished to stay anonymous, said the man was never a problem.

“He was quiet, sometimes tending to his garden. I am shocked to see this.”