Cellphone spat lands two cops in hospital

A POLICE officer is fighting for his life in the Windhoek State Hospital while his partner is recovering at Otjiwarongo after an incident on Sunday when the two were attacked by three suspects in a case they were investigating.

The more seriously hurt of the two men was stabbed in the chest. He sustained serious liver and lung injuries, and was immediately rushed to Windhoek for treatment.His partner was stabbed in the back, and was admitted to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, where he is reportedly now in a stable condition.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu said the officers had just sorted out a dispute between the three suspects and a man whose cellphone had allegedly been stolen.The man’s cellphone had apparently earlier been taken by the trio’s sister, Matengu said, and when he demanded it back she told him to speak to her brothers.They in turn gave him the wrong phone back.When he realised this, he contacted the Police to solve the matter.”Eventually he got his own phone back and the officers were just about to leave in their car when the three men attacked them,” Matengu said.The incident happened at around 21h20 on Sunday, the Police reported yesterday.The suspects, aged 23, 24 and 28, were all rounded up later that night and have been charged with attempted murder.The Police warned the public against any form of violence against its members, saying that in such cases officers would be forced to defend themselves.”The public is once more reminded that any form of attack on Police officers, both those in uniform as well as those in civil clothes and on duty, amounts to a serious offence.The perpetrators will be arrested and brought to book as soon as possible,” the Police’s public relations department cautioned yesterday.”In cases where such provocations are directed at them, Police officers may be forced to use force to defend themselves and that may result in unwarranted consequences from both sides,” the statement continues.Respect for human rights was not only expected from Police officers, the department said, but also from the public who have often in recent times accused the Police of unnecessary violence.He sustained serious liver and lung injuries, and was immediately rushed to Windhoek for treatment.His partner was stabbed in the back, and was admitted to the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, where he is reportedly now in a stable condition.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Matengu said the officers had just sorted out a dispute between the three suspects and a man whose cellphone had allegedly been stolen.The man’s cellphone had apparently earlier been taken by the trio’s sister, Matengu said, and when he demanded it back she told him to speak to her brothers.They in turn gave him the wrong phone back.When he realised this, he contacted the Police to solve the matter.”Eventually he got his own phone back and the officers were just about to leave in their car when the three men attacked them,” Matengu said.The incident happened at around 21h20 on Sunday, the Police reported yesterday. The suspects, aged 23, 24 and 28, were all rounded up later that night and have been charged with attempted murder.The Police warned the public against any form of violence against its members, saying that in such cases officers would be forced to defend themselves.”The public is once more reminded that any form of attack on Police officers, both those in uniform as well as those in civil clothes and on duty, amounts to a serious offence.The perpetrators will be arrested and brought to book as soon as possible,” the Police’s public relations department cautioned yesterday.”In cases where such provocations are directed at them, Police officers may be forced to use force to defend themselves and that may result in unwarranted consequences from both sides,” the statement continues.Respect for human rights was not only expected from Police officers, the department said, but also from the public who have often in recent times accused the Police of unnecessary violence.