Teenager runs amok beats up police officer

Senior Court Reporter
A DRUNK teenager ran amok and punched and bit a uniformed police officer who was trying to arrest him for ignoring an order to reduce the volume of his radio, a magistrate heard. Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube heard how on Christmas Day, Gabriel Chifamba, 18, of Entumbane insulted three police officers who were patrolling the area for reprimanding him against disturbing neighbours through loud music.

Prosecuting, Frank Ncube, told the court that Chifamba defied the police order and insulted the law enforcement agents, calling them dogs.

“When the police officers apprehended Chifamba, he became violent and punched one of them, Constable Vincent Dube on the head before biting his left arm,” said Ncube.

The police officer had to be taken to hospital following the attack.
The court was told that Chifamba continued wrestling against the police officers as they were trying to arrest him while members of the public watched. He then managed to escape and fled from the scene with a pair of handcuffs hanging from one hand.

The police officers with the assistance of members of the public managed to chase Gabriel and apprehended him leading to his arrest.
Dube convicted Chifamba on his own plea of guilty to charges of undermining police authority, assault and escaping from lawful custody.
She sentenced him to 18 months in jail which were wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

In passing the sentence, the magistrate took into consideration the fact that Chifamba was still of school going age hence sending him to jail would jeopardise his studies.