Ivory Park police have arrested a man for the illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition as well as for the attempted murder of community patrollers on 3 September.
The 40-year-old suspect is alleged to have shot at the patrollers without provocation after they came to a shack looking for someone near where the suspect resides in Ext 2 in Ivory Park.
“He fired several shots at the patrollers while fleeing the scene but the community saw what was happening and gave chase until they caught him,” said Ivory Park police spokesperson Captain Bernard Matimulane. “The suspect was severely assaulted and is currently in hospital under police guard.”
Ivory Park police seek community’s help
The Ivory Park Police Station commander Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo thanked the community members who risked their lives to catch the suspect who was armed and dangerous. He, however, appealed to the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands as this would breed lawlessness in the community.
“The arrest of the suspect and recovery of the firearm will go a long way in sending a clear message to other armed bandits that we will stop at nothing to bring them to account,” said Ngcobo.
“I further want to send out my gratitude to the patrollers for devoting their time to fighting crime and working closely with the police.”
The suspect is expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court once he is discharged from hospital.
Details: Ivory ark Police Station 011 990 9600.
