Illegal gun owners in court

THE three men arrested in Wentworth on Saturday, 5 July appeared in court and have been remanded back into police custody pending further investigations.

The first man was arrested by Wentworth SAP’s Captain Lawrence Lottering and Constable McDonald, while on patrol on Alabama Road. They noticed a man wearing a hood and dark clothing acting in a suspicious manner while running across the road. The officers searched him and found a fully-loaded .357 magnum revolver tucked in his pants. Unable to produce a licence, he was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He appeared in Wentworth court on Monday, 7 July and was remanded in custody due to a 2013 pending case for possession of another firearm.

Later in their patrol, this time along Hime Street, Capt Lottering and Cst McDonald received a complaint of two men running with firearms. With the help of a witness the pair was able to locate the men and arrest them on charges of pointing firearms. Assisted further by the Durban Flying Squad and Metro Police Unit, Cst Ralph Ogle and his partner found more guns belonging to the men in Woodville Road.

Wentworth SAP communications officer, Lieutenant Gumede has issued a warning: “The police will be harsh to those who carry illegal firearms in our community and stop-and-search operations will be conducted as part of police duties to search anybody acting suspiciously. Please report any illegal firearms to the police for them to act immediately before someone’s life is lost. You have a right to remain anonymous.”

Call the Crime Stop hotline on 08600-10111 or the Flying Squad on 10111.