Two women with police after the car at the centre of yesterday’s shooting
was found.
A child believed to be three years old was in the car when a police officer
fired several shots as it sped away after a routine traffic stop yesterday.
Four adults, two of whom had bench warrants issued for their arrest, are now
with police.
Police investigating the Nollamara shooting found the car earlier today.
The officer who fired the shots could face criminal or disciplinary charges.
Internal Affairs unit Detective Superintendent Tony Flack said earlier that
up to five people were believed to be in the car when a officer fired
several shots.
Det Supt Flack said the officer had previously been investigated by the
Internal Affairs unit.
He re-affirmed comments this morning that there did not appear to be any
valid reason for the discharge of the firearm.
The officer who fired the shots has been put on administrative duties
without access to firearms.
About 1.30pm yesterday police in a marked traffic car pulled over a black
Holden Zafira on Flinders Street. A male officer in the patrol car fired
several shots at the station wagon carrying two Aboriginal women known to
police.
Det Supt Flack said the driver gave a false name and that when the officer
asked her to accompany him to a police station, she wound up her window and
sped off.
It was then that the officer drew his weapon and fired at the vehicle.
“The Internal Affairs Unit can’t find at this time any valid reason for the
discharge of this firearm,” Det Supt Flack said.
“WA Police do not condone the use of firearms to stop motor vehicles.”
Det Supt Flack said criminal charges against the officer were “more than a
possibility”.
He said the policeman had been involved previously in an unrelated work
incident and that would be taken into account in assessing his judgment and
whether the police commissioner retained confidence in him as an officer.
Aboriginal Legal Service Dennis Eggington has called for a full
investigation into the incident.
We just can’t have this sort of thing happening on our streets where people
are being fired at, particularly of late when there’s been lots of, I guess,
tension between Aborigines and the police,” he told ABC Radio.
Menu