KOTA KINABALU: Police had to open fire on a car after two suspected criminals inside tried to ram their mobile patrol vehicle in Tuaran district. about 40km from here.
The suspects, both local men in their 30s, were later detained after a short high-speed chase on Thursday (Oct 3) night.
The incident occurred after the patrol unit from city police headquarters here spotted the car going dangerously against the flow of traffic near a fuel station in Telipok town, off Jalan Tuaran-Kota Kinabalu near here, at 9.29pm.
Tuaran OCPD Supt Noraidin Ag Maidin, in confirming the incident, said the patrol unit then tried to intercept the car for the safety of other road users.
The suspect driving the car accelerated instead in an attempt to ram the police vehicle and make a getaway.
“As a result, the patrol team fired several shots at the car in self-defence," he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 4).
He said the suspects then sped off towards Taman Sri Rugading in Tuaran but the team managed to catch up and stop their vehicle.
“The suspects then attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended.
“We found suspected apparatus for drug abuse in their car,” Supt Noraidin added.
A check later found that the suspects had criminal records, and the case was being probed under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, he said.
He advised the public not to speculate about the incident as it could jeopardise the investigation.
He also urged anyone with information on the incident or the suspects to contact Tuaran police or the nearest police station.