SINGAPORE: A 43-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly biting a police officer who was trying to detain him.
He will be charged for the offence on Friday (Jul 26), along with charges of dangerous driving and driving without a licence.
The man was driving a van when he was stopped for checks along Java Road, near Golden Mile Complex, at about 1.40pm on Jul 24.
However, he sped off in a “dangerous manner” before stopping his van at the junction of Sims Way and Geylang Road to flee on foot, the police said in a media release.
Officers gave chase and managed to stop him along Lorong 9 Geylang.
“While the officers were trying to detain the man, he bit one of the officers on his left forearm,” the police said. “Despite his injury, the officer managed to subdue and arrest the man together with another officer.”
The 35-year-old officer who was bitten suffered a laceration on his left forearm. He was taken to the hospital and later discharged with three days of medical leave, the police said.
“The motorist showed a blatant disregard for the law by attacking and injuring the police officers who were performing their duties,” said Commander of Traffic Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Daniel Tan.
“He also endangered the safety of all other road users by driving dangerously and without a valid driving licence. He will bear the full brunt of his actions and will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.”
The police said they have zero tolerance for acts of violence against police officers.
“The Traffic Police also takes a serious view of motorists who drive in a manner that endangers their safety and that of other road users. Motorists who choose to flout traffic laws will be firmly dealt with,” the police added.
If found guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, the man can be jailed for up to seven years, and fined or caned.
For dangerous driving, he faces a jail term of up to 12 months or a fine of up to S$5,000 (US$3,700), or both.
Driving without a valid driving licence is also punishable with imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
