Off-duty Pinetown police officer mistaken for criminal, shootout ensues

MOTORISTS and pedestrians were advised to avoid the vicinity of Pinetown SAPS on Josiah Gumede Road on Friday (2 October) morning while the area was being cordoned off as an active crime scene. 

People who shared information on crime groups on WhatsApp seemed sure the incident was an attempted hijacking.

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However, Pinetown SAPS later confirmed that it was a serious case of misidentification. 

According to Pinetown Cluster communications officer, Capt Bongumusa Manqele, the shooting followed a business robbery in Savannah Park.

“An off-duty police officer attended the scene and there was a shootout with criminals,” he said.

“The Metro Police attended and saw a VW Golf leaving the scene and they chased it. Shots were fired at the vehicle until it stopped at the Pinetown SAPS.”

“Metro Police did not know that it was a police officer because it was a private vehicle car,” said Manqele.

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Paramedic Michelle Smith confirmed that Meditech paramedics were on the scene but said Emergency Medical and Response Service (EMRS) treated the off-duty officer who had been grazed by a bullet, sustaining a minor injury. 

 

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