Publications
Partners
Pietermaritzburg - A KwaZulu-Natal man arrested an allegedly drunk police officer and locked him up in the back of his police van after watching him drive recklessly through the streets of Pietermaritzburg.
Russell George, of Prestbury, said he was coming down Stott Street and about to enter Mayor’s Walk at about 8pm on January 13 2013, when he noticed a police van driving fast and recklessly.
LOCKED UP IN HIS OWN VAN
“He was driving towards oncoming traffic as he turned into Victoria Road. He suddenly jammed on his brakes and came to a complete stop. I got out of my car and went towards him and I asked him if he knew what he was doing. He started his car and carried on driving.”
Continuing to drive recklessly, the policeman turned into Logan Road and came to a stop at the Howard Road intersection.
George decided it would be best to call 10111. He was told the police would be there shortly.
He said: “After five minutes, no one had arrived. So I jumped out of my car and I approached the driver’s side and asked him to come out. He looked at me and I could smell that he had been drinking. I asked him again, and he refused. I then grabbed his keys, pulled him out and locked him in the back of his own van.”
George added that the police van was badly damaged, as if it had been involved in an accident.
A witness who lives near Howard Road, also said the policeman was drunk when he was pulled out of the vehicle.
TEAR JERKER
She said: “He was quite sloshed. He was weak enough for him to be pulled out and into the back of the van. When he was put into the back [of the van], he started crying.
“It was ironic because it was a citizen who put him in the back of his own van.
She said the police officers who arrived there “were quite embarrassed”.
OH THE IRONY
The witness stated that when her mother approached the officer to ask him what happened, he said he had been celebrating his birthday and that all his friends had bought him a bottle of alcohol.
“He did not deny that he was drunk,” she said.
Another witness, named as Sbu, agreed that the officer was very drunk.
The policeman was taken to Loop Street police station.
It was alleged that police had recently been called to a nightclub in the city where the officer had held up his girlfriend at gunpoint.
George said that while he was giving his statement, “two men came into the station to report that a police van had crashed into [their vehicle] and fled”.
SAPS BLUSHES
Police spokesperson Joey Jeevan confirmed that the policeman had been taken into custody.
Jeevan said: “He will be charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“While he was in custody, we received a report that he had been involved in a collision in Prestbury. He is also going to be investigated for reckless and negligent driving."
She added that police were aware of an incident “where there was a problem with his girlfriend”.
Jeevan stated that an investigation into an assault was pending and that the officer’s firearm had been taken away.
Zweli Mnisi, spokesperson for Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, said justice should prevail and that the investigation should take place without prejudice.
Was the driver wrong to take such action even though police had been notified or should he be commended for making a civilians arrest?
Do you have any similar stories to share?
Email us and we'll publish your thoughts on Wheels24. Or use the Readers' Comments section below...
Russell George, of Prestbury, said he was coming down Stott Street and about to enter Mayor’s Walk at about 8pm on January 13 2013, when he noticed a police van driving fast and recklessly.
LOCKED UP IN HIS OWN VAN
“He was driving towards oncoming traffic as he turned into Victoria Road. He suddenly jammed on his brakes and came to a complete stop. I got out of my car and went towards him and I asked him if he knew what he was doing. He started his car and carried on driving.”
Continuing to drive recklessly, the policeman turned into Logan Road and came to a stop at the Howard Road intersection.
George decided it would be best to call 10111. He was told the police would be there shortly.
He said: “After five minutes, no one had arrived. So I jumped out of my car and I approached the driver’s side and asked him to come out. He looked at me and I could smell that he had been drinking. I asked him again, and he refused. I then grabbed his keys, pulled him out and locked him in the back of his own van.”
George added that the police van was badly damaged, as if it had been involved in an accident.
A witness who lives near Howard Road, also said the policeman was drunk when he was pulled out of the vehicle.
TEAR JERKER
She said: “He was quite sloshed. He was weak enough for him to be pulled out and into the back of the van. When he was put into the back [of the van], he started crying.
“It was ironic because it was a citizen who put him in the back of his own van.
She said the police officers who arrived there “were quite embarrassed”.
OH THE IRONY
The witness stated that when her mother approached the officer to ask him what happened, he said he had been celebrating his birthday and that all his friends had bought him a bottle of alcohol.
“He did not deny that he was drunk,” she said.
Another witness, named as Sbu, agreed that the officer was very drunk.
The policeman was taken to Loop Street police station.
It was alleged that police had recently been called to a nightclub in the city where the officer had held up his girlfriend at gunpoint.
George said that while he was giving his statement, “two men came into the station to report that a police van had crashed into [their vehicle] and fled”.
SAPS BLUSHES
Police spokesperson Joey Jeevan confirmed that the policeman had been taken into custody.
Jeevan said: “He will be charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“While he was in custody, we received a report that he had been involved in a collision in Prestbury. He is also going to be investigated for reckless and negligent driving."
She added that police were aware of an incident “where there was a problem with his girlfriend”.
Jeevan stated that an investigation into an assault was pending and that the officer’s firearm had been taken away.
Zweli Mnisi, spokesperson for Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, said justice should prevail and that the investigation should take place without prejudice.
Was the driver wrong to take such action even though police had been notified or should he be commended for making a civilians arrest?
Do you have any similar stories to share?
Email us and we'll publish your thoughts on Wheels24. Or use the Readers' Comments section below...
