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ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES AGAINST EMPD
"trigger-happy"
adj Informal
1. tending to resort to the use of firearms or violence irresponsibly.
2. tending to act rashly or without due consideration.
ON MONDAY 22 March 2010, Human Rights Day in South Africa, the National Chairman of JPSA received an urgent appeal for response assistance to the scene of a shooting incident in Kempton Park, East of Johannesburg.
Callers, two of whom just so happened to be members of JPSA described a scene where a car had been shot up and both the driver of that car and a witness at the scene had been arrested and assaulted by EMPD officers.
After travelling nearly 150km to arrive at the scene, it was discovered that EMPD had decided to conduct their own "investigation" at the scene and take the two arrested parties to Olifantsfontein Police Station to be detained.
On arriving at Olifantsfontein Police Station, some 15km further away, Howard Dembovsky proceeded to ask one of the EMPD officers, a female officer to identify herself since she was wearing only a navy blue shirt and camel pants. No badge, no shoulder flashes, no insignia, shield or any other part of an EMPD uniform. She arrogantly and aggressively refused to provide any of her credentials.
At 19:45, both Miles Orbell (driver) and Henry (witness) were eventually released on R1000 bail each, after they had been detained for over seven hours and threats of keeping them overnight had been levelled.
Miles Orbell was charged with, reckless or negligent driving, intimidation, damage to property and resisting of arrest. Henry was charged with interfering with a police investigation. They both attended Tembisa Magistrates Court on Tuesday 23 March 2010, as instructed where Miles' case was postponed to 7 April and Henry's was referred for decision.
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The EMPD car that allegedly started the chase sits at the entrance to the dead end gravel road to Barnstormers Flying Club (R25) on Monday 22 March 2010. |