Family calls cops after housebreaking, son gets arrested for ‘drugs’

Imagine you call the police to report a housebreaking and you end up getting wrongfully arrested for drug dealing?

That is exactly what happened to 40-year-old Carl Schreiber. On 8 March Schreiber was at the family business at about 9am when his mother, with whom he lives, called him saying there was a housebreaking at their residence on Mirage Street. Schreiber rushed home and on arrival called Roodepoort Police to report the crime.

At about 10.30am two police officers arrived, one of whom Schreiber recognised from his school days at Hoërskool Roodepoort. According to Schreiber the police officer greeted him friendly and they went into the house. Then things took a turn for the worse. As they were investigating the house they saw a bag containing a white powder in Schreiber’s room. The police officers asked Schreiber what it was and he told them it was creatine – a substance bodybuilders use as a supplement and that is legally available in stores. The police allegedly told him that he was lying and that the approximately half a kilogram of creatine was indeed ephedrine (a substance used in the manufacturing of some illegal drugs) and that he was a dealer.

The two policemen then allegedly started ransacking the house, looking for more drugs. Schreiber repeatedly told them it was creatine. In the process of searching for the drugs without gloves, Schreiber said they disturbed the crime scene. “Many valuable finger prints were probably rendered useless,” said Schreiber.

They then ordered him to give them his vehicle’s keys to search that as well. When he took the keys out of his trouser pocket, they noticed a substantial amount of cash. Schreiber said the money was to be used to buy stock for the business but they argued that having so much cash on him confirmed that he was a drug dealer. They handcuffed him and put him in the back of the police vehicle.

The policemen then drove around with Schreiber in Roodepoort CBD and then back to Helderkruin, eventually stopping in Hercules Close. According to Schreiber they uncuffed him and told him “… you better talk, otherwise you’ll be in s**t”. He again tried to convince them that the powder was not ephedrine but creatine. After a lengthy argument the two policemen eventually told him to “f**k off” and when he asked what about the housebreaking one of the policemen said, “Go and sort it out your f*****g self”. Schreiber then had to walk home but the two officers never returned the powder. Schreiber said he finds it suspicious. “If they really thought it was drugs why did they keep it but let me go? Shouldn’t they have taken me to the police station, held me in custody, booked in the ‘drugs’ as evidence and had it tested in a laboratory? Alternatively, if they realised it was a legal substance, they should have given it back to me,” said an angry Schreiber.

When the family called the police station they discovered that no case had been opened. Up to date (15 March) the police also have yet to visit the family.

The Record contacted Roodepoort Police Station for comment and was told via email that “Kindly note that this matter is receiving attention and we will revert back to you as soon as possible”.

The family also laid a complaint at the Police Head Office and were told their complaint will be investigated by the Provincial Commissioner.

*The name of one of the police officers as well as the police vehicle’s call sign are known to the Record.

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