Residents attack police officers during drug raid

Residents attack police officers during drug raid

JAKARTA (JP): Four detectives from the City police narcotics
unit were wounded by residents of Tanah Abang during a raid on a
suspected drug dealer's house on Jl. Baturaja in Central Jakarta
in the early hours of Wednesday.

One of the injured officers, a second sergeant, suffered
serious injuries and was rushed to Soekanto Police Hospital in
East Jakarta.

The three other officers were treated for light wounds at the
city police health clinic.

Police and witnesses said that the four plainclothes officers
were attacked by the residents with stones and sharp weapons
after the arrested drug dealer screamed for help, calling the
officers thieves.

With the help of a low-ranking member of the Presidential
Guard unit, identified as Cpl. Ateng, the suspected drug dealer,
identified as Rudi, alias John, managed to escape, police said.

Another team of police officers -- led by Jakarta Police
narcotics chief Lt. Col. Abdullah -- was deployed immediately to
the scene to calm down the mob and to arrest Rudi.

However, the suspect is still at large.

According to Jakarta Police detective chief Col. Alex Bambang
Riatmojo, who also arrived at the scene, the area is one of the
city's most active drugs area.

"We've been surveilling the area for a long time and the four
officers were there to make an arrest," Alex said.

The incident took place at around 1:30 a.m. when the four
officers, traveling in a green Kijang van, arrived at the house
on Jl. Baturaja believed by the police to be owned by Rudi.

"Rudi was inside the house and was placed under arrest and
taken to the officers' Kijang van. But he repeatedly shouted
'thief', which caused nearby residents to rush to the house with
stones and sharp weapons in their hands," Rudi's niece, Ria
Akmari, who was summoned for questioning in the case, said.

She asserted that her widower uncle was not a drug dealer.

He sometimes earned money by helping friends sell or buy used
cars, Ria said.

According to Capt. Heru, who led the raid on Rudi's house, the
mob continued to beat them after they had identified themselves
as police officers.

"We believe they heard my subordinates shout 'police,'" Heru
said.

While the officers were being attacked by the mob, Cpl. Ateng,
who reportedly was wearing a combat uniform and sitting at a
nearby food stall, assisted Rudi, who had already been
handcuffed.

Ateng then helped Rudi to escape, Heru said.

"We told him that we were police officers and he should help
us, but he ignored us and kept on running," Heru said.

The residents dispersed only after one of the officers was
beaten unconscious.

During a search of Rudi's house, police found 500 grams of
putaw (low-grade heroin), a few grams of marijuana, an air rifle
and two hunting knives, Alex said.

One of the knives was found inside a white Toyota Corona sedan
bearing diplomatic license plates parked in the garage. (emf)