Naked Man Arrested for Grabbing Cape Town Cop’s Gun and Firing It, Sparks Jokes and Criticism Online
- Police officers in Cape Town arrested a naked vagrant following a scuffle in which gunshots were fired
- The man is expected to appear in court, where he faces several charges, including public indecency
- Social media users shared their thoughts on the incident, with some very critical of the police
- James Modise, a resident of Goodwood, shared with Briefly News his scary experience with a homeless man
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE – The arrest of a naked vagrant in Cape Town has left social media users amused and some annoyed.
The man was arrested following a scuffle with police after he grabbed a police officer’s firearm and fired it. The incident happened in the Central Business District (CBD) on Wednesday, 3 September.
What led to the arrest?
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, explained that officers responded to complaints about a naked man on the sidewalk on Keerom Street around 1 pm.
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Officers asked the young man to cover up, but he refused to cooperate. He then engaged in a scuffle with the police before grabbing the gun of one member.
“A scuffle ensued during which the man took the firearm from one member and discharged shots. Fortunately, no one was hit," Pojie said.
Officers were then able to overpower the man and arrest him. He will be charged with robbery of a firearm, discharge of a firearm in a public space and public indecency.
Videos of the incident soon surfaced online, which showed the firing of at least three shots, two of which went into the ground.
Source: Getty Images
Vagrants pose a problem for some residents
The actions of the man in the CBD are not uncommon, as residents have often complained about how aggressive and demanding they can be.
James Modise, a resident of Goodwood, shared with Briefly News an experience he had with vagrants.
He recalled that he was driving along when a man hurled himself into the road.
“I think he was high or something, but he moved suddenly before I swerved,” Modise explained.
What did South Africans think about the news?
Social media users shared mixed reactions to the story. While some were amused by the incident, others questioned how the officer could be so easily disarmed.
Darryl Meyer said:
“Police should be trained for these situations. How can you be disarmed by someone who looks like they are on tik?
Velocity Meme stated:
“Western Cape is a haven for criminals. They even go naked, wow.”
Richardo Craig Solomon joked:
“The real Naked Gun.”
Glen Fox noted:
“This guy weighs 60kg, is skinny, there’s no hand-to-hand combat training, on drugs or something, and disarms a cop🤣.”
Fareed Hoosen added:
“Again, men on the streets. This is why we keep saying, be very cautious in how you deal with the vagrants, homeless, and drug addicts on the streets. They are high, violent, super quick, and if you make a mistake, this happens. We are not on the roads to impress the public. We are on the streets doing a very high-risk job day and night. It's important to safeguard yourself and your firearm so that you are also safeguarding the public. Mistakes and underestimating the street people can become deadly, very quickly. Be vigilant.”
Shar Shaz Roberts stated:
“This is not a joke. The police officer was negligent in securing his firearm. Don't they get training?”
Sandra Gordon said:
“They took a while to subdue the perpetrator. Totally incompetent.”
Mariska Abrahams asked:
“Policeman gets robbed of his firearm just like that?”
Muneer Thomas questioned:
“How do you let a civilian disarm you of your pistol? As a police man, I would feel embarrassed.”
Other stories of officers being disarmed
Briefly News reported that there have been other incidents in the country where officers have been disarmed by members of the public.
In March 2021, a clip surfaced online showing a drunk man disarming a female police officer.
Tragedy struck in 2022 when a patient disarmed a police officer and opened fire inside the Somerset Hospital.
South Africans were stunned in November 2022 when a video surfaced showing a dishevelled man disarming police officers.
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Source: Briefly News
