Civilian punches traffic cop

Civilian punches traffic cop KENYA KAMBOWE

RUNDU

A traffic officer at Rundu had to pick himself up from the ground after an angry motorist threw punches at him while his colleagues looked on.

The incident happened on Wednesday morning at the passenger loading zone opposite the One Stop petrol station.

Kavango East police Deputy Commissioner Vilho Kalwenya said the motorist was arrested for assaulting an officer of the law.

The suspect, who drives a seven-seater vehicle, allegedly punched the officer because he removed the licence disk of his vehicle and tore it up.

Namibian Sun learnt that the suspect had been involved in an accident with a state ambulance near Nkurenkuru on Tuesday, which resulted in his vehicle being badly scratched on the right side.

Knife

According to witnesses to the fight, the suspect was having a meal at a nearby restaurant when he was approached by the traffic officer.

At some point of the altercation the officer pulled out a pocketknife.

Some said he used it to cut up the vehicle’s licence disk and was then knocked down, while others said he pulled out the knife it out after he was punched.

“The officer took out his Okapi knife and cut the licence disk and the next thing we saw was the officer picking himself up from the ground,” one witness said.

“The officer took out his knife upon picking himself up off the ground after the two quick punches, but he was warned by his colleagues who observed the fight,” another witness said.

A number of police vehicles arrived, carrying about 30 police officers, including some of the Special Reserve Force. They ended up impounding the vehicle of the suspect, who fled after beating the officer.

The police then ordered all minibus drivers to leave the area. One driver who refused to leave was slapped in the face until he complied.

kenya@namibiansun.com