Shots fired in Cape Town as naked man wrestles gun from officer

A naked man was arrested after disarming a police officer during a dramatic scuffle in Cape Town, Western Cape on Wednesday.

Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, said police received a complaint about a naked man on the sidewalk on Keerom Street around 1pm.

"On arrival at the scene, police found a young naked man who refused to cooperate and cover himself. A scuffle ensued during which the man took the firearm from one member and discharged shots, fortunately no one was hit," said Pojie.

Pojie said three police officers managed to overpower the suspect.

"They arrested him on charges related to the robbery of a firearm, discharge of a firearm in a public space and public indecency," added Pojie.

The man is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court soon.

In another unrelated incident, a woman arrested and charged together with her male partner for the murder of a Bloubergstrand car guard which was caught on CCTV footage, has been freed.

The man who may not be identified until the investigation team indicates whether an identity parade will take place, made an appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he is facing a charge of murder.

The woman who was also detained, was later released according to Table View police station officials. The case was withdrawn against the woman prior to court proceedings.

The matter was postponed for bail information.

The couple were arrested on Sunday after police traced them to a residence in Cape Town.

Detectives utilised CCTV footage obtained which showed the couple allegedly fleeing the scene in a vehicle. 

The body of the car guard was found lying between vehicles in Marine Circle, Bloubergstrand on Sunday by a group of passersby who alerted the police.

Earlier, Table View police station spokesperson, Captain Adriana Chandler confirmed that the car guard was unidentified and that he had been stabbed under his arm and died at the scene.

She explained that detectives visited a property near the crime scene where they obtained video footage and that they managed to trace the suspects to a residence in Cape Town.

sinenhlanhla. masilela@iol.co.za

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