The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has condemned an incident last night (January 29) in Sandhurst where a female officer was allegedly assaulted while performing her official duties,reports theSandton Chronicle. According to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla, an officer was deployed to a private residence to conduct a pre-inspection following an application for a borehole installation. “As part of the standard operating procedure, the officer was recording footage of the property to serve as evidence for the inspection report,” said Fihla.
During the process, the officer was allegedly confronted by the homeowner and a private security guard. Fihla said an altercation began, resulting in the physical assault of the female JMPD officer, malicious damage to a council-issued cellphone, and a marked JMPD patrol vehicle. The officer managed to call for backup and JMPD officers together with the Vision Tactical team swiftly responded.
“The officer successfully called for backup, leading to the swift arrival of additional units. The homeowner was subsequently arrested and is currently being detained at the Sandton SAPS,” he said. Fihla added that the injured officer was transported to the hospital for medical attention.
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He confirmed that the suspect is facing several charges including assault, interference with official police duties, and malicious damage to council property. “We view any attack on our officers as an attack on the City of Johannesburg and the rule of law. We will not tolerate any form of intimidation or violence against our members who are working to ensure compliance and service delivery for all residents,” he added.
“Further updates will be shared as the investigation progresses and the matter moves through the legal system,” said Fihla. Breaking news at your fingertips…Follow Caxton Network News onFacebookand join ourWhatsApp channel.
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