Officer defends himself in shoot-out
"The community stands together, in the fight against crime."
A shoot-out took place in Illiondale on May 23 between a police officer and men armed with firearms.
The officer who was confirming an address as part of a crime prevention operation sustained minor injuries when the suspects opened fire on him.
“While in an unmarked vehicle the officer noticed a suspicious metallic-coloured Mercedes-Benz. Three individuals were standing outside the vehicle, while two people were inside the vehicle.
“When they realised the officer was a police officer the suspects pointed firearms at the officer and opened fire.
“The officer returned fire,” said Edenvale SAPS acting communications officer Warrant Officer Jean Olckers.
At some time during the shoot-out with the suspects, the officer sustained minor injuries.
“Some of the suspects escaped on foot and others in the vehicle,” said W/O Olckers.
“There was a a massive amount of manpower,” said W/O Olckers.
He said, “All stations in the Tembisa North Cluster sent assistance. The search for the suspects saw the combined group converge at the vlei in Illiondale, a SAPS helicopter was also called in to offer aerial assistance. No arrests were made,” said W/O Olckers.
W/O Olckers said that there was a combined effort and some groups that were visible at the scene were SAPS, Ekurhuleni Metro Police, Johannesburg Metro Police, Edenvale CPF, Savika K9 Unit and Emer-G-Med.
W/O Olckers thanked the officer and everyone who was involved. “It showed the that the community stands together in the fight against crime.”
