Joint efforts to chase armed suspects resulted in a shootout, injury and the suspects being arrested on Friday night, 13 November.
BCI’s Quinton Young, whose fleet assisted in the high-speed chase, told the Northsider that they heeded the call from a security group after learning about the chase.
“Members of SMS Security, AfriForum and Muldersdrift Community Policing Forum (CPF) had started chasing suspects on foot who had committed an armed robbery,” he said.
He said BCI Security responded and met with the CPF, and proceeded with the search.
“On the way to the last sighting of the suspects, a Quantum drove past K1 (the fleet’s name). The vehicle seemed suspicious and K1 decided to turn around and follow it. As they were approaching the N14, occupants of the Quantum started shooting at K1 who immediately called for backup,” Young explained.
Young further explained that a BCI manager (M1) who had been en route posted the need for backup on a WhatsApp group which saw a member of an unknown organisation joining the chase on the N14 in the direction of Pretoria.
“When K1 got close to the Quantum the occupants shot at him again, hitting the BCI vehicle. K1 returned fire and the Quantum took the Lanseria offramp,” he unravelled the drama.
He added that the Quantum was immobilised on the bridge across the N14. “The suspects jumped out and started running. Two of them jumped off the bridge and fell onto the N14, sustaining serious injuries.
“M1 and K1 chased after the third suspect and moved to the bottom of the R512 on the N14 where they discovered a suspect with a firearm under the bridge,” he explained.
From this point, various backup units arrived on the scene.
“ER24 was dispatched to the scene to treat the suspects who were found not far from each,” he said.
Young also mentioned the arrival of the West Rand K9 and Flying Squad, plus Muldersdrift Police.
“Unfortunately, the remaining suspects managed to evade capture,” he concluded.
