SIBU: A 43-year-old man has been arrested for driving recklessly and endangering the lives of police officers on beat duty.
Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said at about 12.50pm on Sept 16, a 38-year-old police officer was on beat duty in an MPV with a colleague at the traffic light intersection at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman near Sibu Hospital when they spotted a four-wheel drive jumping the red light.
“The officer gave chase and also switched on the beacon light and sounded the siren to ask the driver to stop,” he said.
The 43-year-old driver of the four-wheel drive, however, ignored the order. This caused the police to give chase.
“At the junction of Jalan Kemuyang, the driver suddenly braked and his car almost collided with the police MPV. The police officer had to swerve to avoid an accident,” said Stanley.
The police officer also fired a shot at the rear right tyre of the four-wheel drive as a self defence.
“Even then, the driver still did not stop but sped towards the direction of Jalan Sibu- Bintulu. At Mile 12 of the road, the suspect stopped the vehicle, cursed the police officers and showed them his middle finger,” added Stanley.
He said when the police officer introduced himself to the suspect, the latter refused to cooperate but went into his vehicle and sped off again. This led to another cat-and-mouse chase.
The suspect from Jalan Abang Amin in Bintangor was later apprehended with the help of two other MPVs which were called up for re-enforcement.
The police also seized the suspect’s vehicle.
Stanley said the suspect had been remanded for investigation under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing the police in the discharge of their duties.
He is also being investigated under Section 307 of the same code for driving
Dangerously and under Section 509 for the insulting gesture.
The suspect tested positive for methamphetamine, said Stanley.
