Cops hijacked me - Porsche driver
2012-05-14 08:26
Johannesburg - A Johannesburg man was hijacked and held at gunpoint by a group of men in police uniforms, The Star reported on Monday.
Ryan Pickford drove past Leeuwkop prison on Friday evening when a white VW Golf behind him began flashing blue lights, according to the daily.
The 35-year-old pulled over. Several men wearing police uniforms, bulletproof vests and carrying R5 rifles told him he would be arrested if he did not accompany them to the nearest police roadblock for a breathalyser test. He agreed, but said he was able to drive his own car. He was handcuffed and pushed into the back of the Golf.
One of the criminals drove off in his Porsche. He was then told he was being hijacked. The men pushed his head down and pointed their guns at him.
Family
"I told them about my two kids and wife, and how I needed to be with them," Pickford said.
His 3-week-old son is in the high care unit at Morningside Clinic.
The men questioned him about his cars and banking details. Thirty minutes later they pulled over at a veld in Centurion and took his watch and cellphone. The men told him to run into the veld and lie down. After a few minutes the car sped off.
Pickford said he was convinced the men were police officers and not impersonators as he recognised the face of one of them from another roadblock.
"I swore to myself I wouldn't just lie down and take this...If I can help save another life, then I will keep pushing this," he told The Star.
"You are meant to trust them, like doctors or teachers. How will I ever stop at a roadblock again?"
Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale was not available for comment, The Star reported.
Ryan Pickford drove past Leeuwkop prison on Friday evening when a white VW Golf behind him began flashing blue lights, according to the daily.
The 35-year-old pulled over. Several men wearing police uniforms, bulletproof vests and carrying R5 rifles told him he would be arrested if he did not accompany them to the nearest police roadblock for a breathalyser test. He agreed, but said he was able to drive his own car. He was handcuffed and pushed into the back of the Golf.
One of the criminals drove off in his Porsche. He was then told he was being hijacked. The men pushed his head down and pointed their guns at him.
Family
"I told them about my two kids and wife, and how I needed to be with them," Pickford said.
His 3-week-old son is in the high care unit at Morningside Clinic.
The men questioned him about his cars and banking details. Thirty minutes later they pulled over at a veld in Centurion and took his watch and cellphone. The men told him to run into the veld and lie down. After a few minutes the car sped off.
Pickford said he was convinced the men were police officers and not impersonators as he recognised the face of one of them from another roadblock.
"I swore to myself I wouldn't just lie down and take this...If I can help save another life, then I will keep pushing this," he told The Star.
"You are meant to trust them, like doctors or teachers. How will I ever stop at a roadblock again?"
Police spokesperson Katlego Mogale was not available for comment, The Star reported.
- SAPA
