IGP David Asante Appeatu
The Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Directorate has begun investigation into the alleged assault case leveled against one Sergeant Gabriel Tabri, a police officer stationed at the Anyaa Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) by a taxi driver identified as Kwabena Danso.
A statement issued by the director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, said PIPS received the complaint and had already sent a team of investigators to the crime scene.
Three witnesses confirmed that there was a scuffle between the police officer and the taxi driver, but said the officer was not the one who tore the attire of the cabbie.
Superintendent Cephas Arthur said information received from the witnesses revealed that it was the taxi driver who tore his clothing in an attempt to resist arrest when the policeman held his trousers at the waist for crossing red light.
Kwabena Danso, according to information, nearly knocked down a pedestrian upon crossing the red light and this compelled the police officer to follow him to a nearby filling station to apprehend him.
According to the PIPS, its preliminary investigation revealed that on that fateful day, the police officer was on duty at the Palace Town junction traffic light.
The policeman reportedly saw Kwabena Danso drive through a red light at the Anyaa Market rraffic light while other vehicles had stopped.
Sergeant Tabiri then signaled the driver to stop but he refused and so he (policeman) pursued him to a filling station where he had parked the vehicle and was buying fuel.
Supt Arthur said when Sergeant Tabiri questioned the driver as to why he jumped the red light, he flared up and insulted the officer.
Sergeant Tabiri therefore put him under arrest and tried to sit in the driver’s car to be taken to the police station but the driver pushed him out.
Kwabena Danso immediately got out of the vehicle and handed over his keys to another driver friend to move the car away.
It was at this point that the police officer attempted to forcefully apprehend him by holding his pair of trousers by the waist.
Mr Arhur added that Kwabena Danso was yet to bring his witnesses to prove his case.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey