In the latest twist in the strangest of police incidents, charges of intimidation have been laid against Ekurhuleni metro police officers present at the arrest this week of two of three colleagues suing the metro's police chief Robert McBride for harassment, Superintendent Eugene Opperman, a police spokesperson, said yesterday.

He could not confirm a media report that the intimidation charge was laid specifically against McBride, saying it was still a topic of investigation, according to a report on the IoL site. Two of three suspended metro police officers – the same officers that gave police damning evidence against McBride after his car crash last year – were pulled over by colleagues on Wednesday for having tinted windows on their car, a violation of the Road Traffic Act. A disagreement ensued, resulting in the apprehending officer calling for back up, to which McBride also responded, and the situation escalated to a point where the pair was arrested for interfering with an officer carrying out his duties and for alleged assault.
Full report on the IoL site


It is not clear why McBride was called to the scene of the incident, although an Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson suggested he was needed to help control the situation. When pulled over, ‘the driver adopted an extremely aggressive behaviour against the officer,’ said spokesperson Wilfred Kgasago. ‘After the driver had been on the cellphone, out of the blue people, some of whom later identified themselves as SAPS members, swarmed, snarled, abused and obstructed the metro police officer in the execution of his duties.’ The latter called for back-up and the two officers on suspension were arrested, notes a report on The Citizen site. ‘With the arrival of assistance for the officers in distress, the situation was brought under control and some of those who interfered offered apologies and the two suspended officers were led away to Boksburg central police station where charges were laid.’
Full report on The Citizen site


The arrested officers, Patrick Johnston and Stanley Segathevan, were later released. They claim McBride is trying to intimidate them because of the evidence they gave the police about his car crash, notes The Star. The men’s lawyer also claimed McBride was trying to intimidate them, says a report in The Times. The charges of assault and obstructing a colleague in his duties were withdrawn in the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court after the senior public prosecutor told the court there was insufficient evidence against them. Their lawyer, Saleem Ebrahim, said the court’s decision vindicated his clients. According to McBride, who has denied the intimidation claims, Johnston was pulled over in a routine manner because his car windows were tinted, making the vehicle unroadworthy. Six months after McBride's crash, the National Prosecuting Authority claims that new statements are holding up the decision on whether to charge him.
Full report in The Star (subscription needed)


During the incident, McBride swore at police officers and threatened to have them shot, it is alleged in a statement by a senior SAPS officer. The police report was compiled and signed by Boksburg's Acting Station Commissioner, Supt M Pudikabekwa. It claims to record what happened at a petrol station in Boksburg on Wednesday when McBride allegedly walked up to him and a colleague – a captain Van der Merwe, says a report in The Mercury. Pudikabekwa said they were sitting in their unmarked state vehicle when McBride pulled open the door and said: ‘Who the f *ck are you? Show me your f *cking ID card and get out of the car.’ He then pulled the keys out of the ignition and continued swearing at the police officers. Van der Merwe asked McBride who he was, to which he replied: ‘It does not matter who the f*ck I am.’
Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)