Dashcam Catches Daring Dagga Grab

A man who tried to reclaim confiscated dagga from Metro Police officers was caught on a dashcam lunging at an officer and running off empty-handed. He was arrested after a short chase in the Cape Town CBD. Exactly a week later another man was arrested buying drugs on the same street.

A Metro Police Officer, on route to report for duty, observed a suspicious vehicle driving without lights in the early hours of Saturday morning, 12 July.

She contacted a colleague for assistance, and they located the vehicle parked in Darling Street. A man dressed in black approached the vehicle, inserted his hand into the driver’s side window, and placed something in his pocket. As the officers approached, he fled, and the vehicle drove off without lights.

The officers pursued the vehicle and managed to stop it in Strand Street. During a search of the vehicle, a bag of dagga weighing 97.97 grams was found on the driver along with an undisclosed amount of money.

The passenger became uncooperative and riotous during the search and attempted to grab the seized bag of dagga from one of the officers who sustained an injury to her left hand. The suspect then fled down Strand Street, but was apprehended by the officers with the assistance of CCID security officers.

The 23-year-old suspect was arrested for assaulting a police officer and defeating the Ends of Justice, and the 34-year-old motorist was arrested for dealing in drugs.

Exactly a week later, on Saturday 19 July, a CCTV operator monitored a camera at Strand Street and noticed a man buying suspected drugs.

Metro Police officers searched the 37-year-old suspect and found one packet of tik in his possession. He was arrested and taken to Cape Town Central Police Station.

‘City enforcement arrests hundreds of people on a monthly basis for possession of narcotics to clamp down on the proliferation of drugs in our communities.

But we are ready to do more and with increased policing powers we can focus on making bigger and more impactful arrests by targeting the syndicates supplying the street dealers.

With more policing powers we would be able to use the data available to us to conduct meaningful investigations and entrapment operations.

The number of victims impacted by one drug user or dealer grows exponentially when we take into account the loved ones and neighbours who have to deal with the fall out of the abuse and we owe it to our residents to continue to fight for more policing powers’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

In general enforcement efforts over the past week, the City’s enforcement agencies made 266 arrests.

Law Enforcement Officers made 141 arrests and issued 7 030 notices for various offences.

Traffic officers recorded 20 543 speeding offences, impounded 453 public transport vehicles and executed 1 810 warrants of arrest.

They arrested 30 suspects – 37 for driving under the influence of alcohol, one for reckless and negligent driving and four on various other charges.

‘Once again, the drunk driving arrests are concerning. More so because we are still experiencing bouts of inclement weather, which increases the risk of accidents. It is reckless and inconsiderate of everyone else on the road when you get behind the wheel intoxicated,’ added Alderman Smith.

The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 69 trauma incidents and 48 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
Residents are reminded to report any emergency by phoning the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or dial 107 from a landline.