'Tik addict' holds 3 hostage
2005-05-04 23:00
Edna Isaacs
Cape Town - Police used a stun grenade on Wednesday to ward off a tragedy after a Mitchell's Plain father held his family hostage in their home.
The 27-year-old man, his mother, younger sister and brother where in the house when a police team swung into action. Police eventually led the hostage-taker out of the house about 12:30.
But, the man's mother screamed: "Out! You don't have a warrant," after police arrested her eldest son.
The man's identity has not been released as he still has to appear in court.
He is expected to appear in Mitchell's Plain magistrate's court on charges of possessing an illegal firearm and of pointing a firearm.
His younger brother apparently called in police on Wednesday morning.
A police officer at the house said the man had packed furniture across the door to prevent the family from leaving.
The man also apparently grabbed his mother and ran to the bedroom when police opened the door and threw in the stun grenade.
The policeman said they wanted to resolve the stand-off successfully before calling in a negotiating team.
Police seized a 9mm Norinco and a Daisy pellet gun as well as a bullet-proof vest.
According to a neighbour, who refused to give her name, the man was apparently addicted to the drug, tik. This apparently caused him to act in this way.
"He is not a violent person," she said.
The woman said shots were fired inside the house on Tuesday.
"I heard his mother and sister screaming inside the house" on Tuesday night, she said.
Captain Randall Stoffels said that when police arrived at the house, the man had locked himself in a room.
"Police eventually convinced him to open the door and they searched the house."
- Die Burger