Hong Kong policemen draw their guns to arrest driver of stolen car after high-speed chase
- The driver of a Honda Civic, which was recently reported stolen and was fixed with the number plate of another stolen car, was apprehended after 3km chase
- He has been arrested for offences including furious driving, driving without third-party insurance and car theft
Three policemen drew their guns to arrest the driver of a stolen car after a 10-minute high-speed pursuit in Hong Kong’s Kowloon West region in the early hours of Friday.
The car chase began when three traffic officers in a patrol car spotted a black Honda Civic travelling at high speed and disobeying a traffic sign at the junction of Hing Wah Street and Sham Mong Road in Lai Chi Kok at about 1.15am.
As officers signalled to the car’s driver to pull over, a police source said, the 42-year-old man ignored the order and accelerated to escape. Police then gave chase.
“During the pursuit, the car sped through at least 10 red lights and clocked up to 100km/h in a speed zone of 50km/h,” he said.
After a 3km chase, the car was blocked by vehicles stopped at a red light on Cheung Sha Wan Road near the junction with Tai Po Road in Sham Shui Po.
Shot fired as police intercept, arrest gang of four suspected car thieves
The driver tried to run the car through a space between a taxi and roadside railings to escape. “It rammed into the taxi and then slammed into the railings, and got trapped,” the source said.
When three traffic policemen – an acting sergeant and two constables – approached, the driver grabbed what appeared to be a weapon – later identified as a 40cm flashlight – from the front passenger seat.
“Police ordered the man to drop the weapon and leave the car. After repeated warnings were ignored, the officers drew their guns,” he said. “The man eventually put it down and was arrested.”
Four men, including two students, denied bail after high-speed chase and arrest
Police said the Honda Civic was recently reported stolen in Sheung Shui and was fixed with the number plate of another stolen car. Officers also found two fake number plates in the car’s boot.
The driver was arrested for offences including furious driving, driving without third-party insurance and car theft.
The man also complained of feeling unwell, according to police, while a 63-year-old taxi driver, whose car was rammed from behind, suffered minor neck injuries.
Both were taken to Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po for treatment.
As of midday, the suspect was still being held for questioning and had not been charged. Detectives from the Sham Shui Po criminal investigation unit were handling the case.
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