A 27-year-old motorist was arrested Wednesday night after he allegedly endangered the lives of police officers who were chasing after him.

In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Detective, Chief Inspector Timotheus Gabriel said the suspect was stopped by police officers on patrol in Otjiwarongo, and they administered a breathalyser test.

After the test showed that he had an excess amount of alcohol in his system, the suspect who was operating a mini-truck allegedly sped off and headed in the direction of Outjo, said Gabriel.

The officers, who were with a NamPol-branded minibus and a pick-up from the traffic department, then teamed up to chase after him.

In the process the pick-up, which was in close pursuit, was nearly involved in a collision on a curve approximately three kilometres south of Otjiwarongo, Gabriel said.

The two female police officers who were in the traffic vehicle survived the accident by veering off the road to the right side, where they drove into the bushes and their vehicle got stuck.

The officers were uninjured.

The suspect continued to flee at high speed towards Outjo, said Gabriel.

“Approximately 10 kilometres outside Otjiwarongo, some police officers managed to stop him and he was apprehended for defeating the course of justice and reckless and negligent driving, and later charged with drunk and driving,” he said.

The suspect was set to appear in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency