NEWSFLASH: Officer shooting leads to six arrests
“As the officers approached a sharp curve in Pirokseen Street, they were met by a man who started shooting at the officers with pump gun.”
Shots were fired in a dramatic police chase that led to the arrest of six men in the east of Pretoria on Monday night.
A Tshwane metro police officer was shot and wounded during the pursuit.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the metro police’s drug unit noticed an exchange of goods between a group of four and a man.
Mahamba said the four men travelling in a Hyundai vehicle stopped near a brothel known for drug dealing to exchange goods with a another man.
“The officers travelling in an unmarked vehicle immediately approached the Hyundai.”
As the officers identified themselves, the four men sped off.
A chase ensued.
Mahamba said the officers followed the fleeing vehicle from Sunnyside to Elarduspark in the east of Pretoria.
“As the officers approached a sharp curve in Pirokseen Street, they were met by a man who started shooting at the officers with pump gun.”
“The gun-wielding man aged between 45 and 50 shot and wounded the officer.”
Mahamba said back-up vehicles later confirmed the shooter was the uncle of one of the men inside the Hyundai.
He said the 40-something year old confessed to having more firearms.
“He confessed to owning the pump gun but police later discovered a 9mm bullet in one of the nearby houses. The 40-something year old confessed to owning a 9mm pistol but denied using it to shoot at the two officers.”
Mahamba said the man handed both firearms to police and was arrested for attempted murder.
Both firearms were confiscated for ballistic tests.
The speeding Hyundai was later found at a residence in Polaris Street in Waterkloof.
He said police entered the house and found four men aged between 20 and 30.
“Drugs were found when the vehicle and house were searched.”
More drugs were also found in another vehicle at the same residence.
Mahamba said the four occupants were arrested for possession of drugs and failure to stop when required by police.
“The four were expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.”
A fifth person – apparently the owner of the second vehicle – was also arrested for drug possession at the house.
He said the two officers, a man and a woman – were taken to hospital.
“The female officer was being treated for trauma and the male officer for gunshot wounds.”
Bull Security spokesperson JP Griesel said one of their vehicles responded to the shooting around 20:00.
Griesel confirmed the pursuit began somewhere in Sunnyside culminating in, Elardus Park.
“We [Bull Security] have reason to believe the vehicle chased was under the impression they were being targeted for a hi-jacking.”
He said shots were fired by a pedestrian who was believed to be connected to the fleeing vehicle.
Griesel said the officer was shot and wounded on his arm with a graze to the ear.
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