CAPE TOWN - A group of about 40 taxi drivers and owners apparently overpowered officers and freed two of their own, after allegedly storming the Philippi East police station.
Traffic officers had arrested the driver of a Toyota Avanza taxi for producing false documentation last Thursday before being taken to Philippi East police station when the vehicle owner arrived at the police station.
The owner, according to the City, admitted that the licence plate and disc were from one of his other vehicles, and he too was arrested for allowing the driver to operate the vehicle with the fraudulent documents.
“While officers were busy processing the suspects, the owner contacted his wife to collect their possessions, but instead, a group of about 40 taxi drivers and owners stormed the police station, gained entry and demanded that both suspects be set free immediately. When the group saw that their demands would not be met they violently grabbed the suspects in the room and in the scuffle pushed a traffic officer against one of the tables.
“Fortunately, two detectives who were in the room intervened and prevented them from assaulting the officer. The group then managed to free the suspects and left the police station. The station commander activated a 72-hour plan of action to have the suspects re-arrested,” said the City.
Criminal cases for possession of fraudulent documents and escape from lawful custody were opened.
Safety and security mayco member JP Smith said this was the second incident of this nature in just a matter of days – the other having been the incident in Lotus River the very next day. A mob of people prevented Law Enforcement officers from arresting a suspect on drug-related charges.
“It’s a sad day when we have people coming to the aid of suspects in the manner that we witnessed in these incidents. Communities should not allow a few perpetrators who attack enforcement staff to empower criminals in their neighbourhoods. If anyone has seen or knows anything, we ask that they call the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre with information about these attacks. The persons who obstructed justice for goodness knows what end could be victims next time round, at the hands of the same individuals they helped escape,” he said.
Smith said while one attack on an officer of the law was one too many, more and more people felt emboldened to do just that.
“To our staff members, I say thank you for the hard work and for going out on a limb day after day in support of law-abiding citizens. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and I trust that you will not be deterred by these pockets of criminality,” he said.
Cape Times