Somerset West police are investigating multiple charges, including public violence, assault on police officers, malicious damage to property and obstruction of police duties, after chaos ensued during an attempted arrest at a residence in Chris Nissan Park on Saturday 11 April.
Spokesperson Warrant Officer Suzan Jantjies said the incident stemmed from a domestic-violence case opened by a victim, who alleged her ex-boyfriend assaulted her on Friday 10 April, injuring her arm. “On Saturday 11 April, at 13:15, members of the Public Order Police (POPs) Unit and detectives arrived at the suspect’s address to execute the arrest warrant. The situation escalated when the suspect emerged from a Wendy house armed with an axe and a knife, charging towards the officers. Police deployed a stun grenade,” she related. “The suspect and another man retreated into the structure, the latter barricading the door. Police eventually gained entry and arrested the suspected accomplice, while the primary suspect escaped through a window.
“As officers loaded the arrested man into their vehicle about 40 community members gathered and began pelting police and vehicles with bricks and stones, resulting in damage to four police vehicles and injuries to three officers.”
Said station commander Colonel Jacolize Fleischmann: “Police have a responsibility towards domestic violence victims. Those involved will experience the full might of the law.”
