'I started praying really hard'

2007-02-06 23:05

Virginia Keppler

Pretoria - A concerned motorist who saw someone driving apparently drunkenly on the N1 near Pretoria and reported it to the flying squad, had to flee for his life while shots whistled around him, and a bullet went through his car.

It's alleged the driver was a veteran police inspector from Kempton Park.

When he saw he was being reported for his reckless behaviour, he turned around and a "Wild West" chase of about 25km ensued.

After the chase the inspector apparently tried to flee in a marked vehicle, but was arrested by members of Lyttelton police station.

Police allegedly found alcohol, a 9mm service pistol and an R-5 rifle in the man's vehicle.

'Could hardly stand'

Johnny Dickens, 23, of Silvertondale, said the dramatic chase took place about 01:00 on Monday, after he had finished at the gym at Hennop's Park.

He was in Botha Avenue, Centurion, approaching the N1, when he saw the man and a woman stop next to the road.

"The man was wearing private clothes. He got out of the car, and went for a pee.

"He was snot-drunk and could hardly stand on his feet."

"I phoned 112 on my cellphone and they put me through to Wierdra Bridge police. I told them what I was observing, because I was concerned about the guy."

Dickens said the man got into his car and started driving off. "I followed him while staying in contact with the police."

"Botha Avenue became Main Street, and then Glen Street.

"We covered about 11km, to the M57. Here the policeman turned left into a dark road."

"Suddenly, the man made a U-turn and came straight at me. I turned around and tried to get out of there because I could see big shit coming."

Dickens said that his phone switched off with the movement. He headed across Glen Avenue, west towards Olifantsfontein, with the man in hot pursuit.

"I turned into the Olifantsfontein industrial area and started praying."

Dickens made another U-turn and drove back along the dark road to a T-junction, with his pursuer on his tail.

Bullet went through cab

"At the T-junction, I turned left on to the M57 road. Near the St George Hotel he fired about five shots at me."

One of the bullets went through the back of Dickens's bakkie, through his seat, through the dashboard and out through the windscreen.

The bullet passed between his body and his left arm, missing him by about 5cm.

"Look, I'm a church boy, but right then I was praying extra hard."

They sped across the R21 to a four-way stop and turned left in the direction of Pierre van Ryneveld.

The chase swung left on the Nellmapius Drive/M31route and, shortly afterwards, Dickens made another U-turn.

He saw a police vehicle approach from the front and stopped them.

Officer has been arrested

"At that stage, the man sped past them, but the Lyttelton cops gave chase, caught up with him about a kilometre further on, and arrested him."

According to information, the inspector is attached to the crime prevention unit at Kempton Park and has been in the police service for 20 years.

Police spokesperson Paul Ramaloko confirmed that an officer from the Kempton Park police station had been arrested on charges of attempted murder and drunken driving.

- Beeld