Off-duty cop out on a date catches rioting suspects - with help from SCDF officer
SINGAPORE - He was supposed to be out on a supper date with his girlfriend, but the policeman in Muhammad Fareez was not about to let a crime go unpunished.
On Oct 23 at about 11.30pm, the Staff Sergeant (SSGT) had picked up paramedic Nurul Fatin from Yishun Fire Station after the shift, and the couple were about to leave on his motorcycle when they heard a commotion near the station's entrance.
They spotted a group of men running away, leaving behind a man who was limping and bleeding from the head.
While Ms Fatin - whom the The New Paper reported works for a private ambulance service engaged by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) - swiftly administered first aid to the man, the injured man told SSGT Fareez that the unknown group had kicked and punched him.
"I knew that I had to prevent the suspects from getting away as an assault had occurred", said the 27-year-old, who is from the Bukit Timah Neighbourhood Police Centre.
As he was outnumbered, he approached several SCDF personnel in the fire station for assistance, and enlisted the help of Sergeant (SGT) Muhammad Khairi, a firefighter.
The duo then hopped onto SSGT Fareez's bike and gave chase, spotting two of the suspects along the main road of Yishun Ave 2.
While SGT Khairi alighted to chase the suspects on foot, SSGT Fareez executed a U-turn to intercept them and succeeded in detaining one of the suspects.
The other man was caught by SGT Khairi and pinned down.
Police officers from Ang Mo Kio division subsequently arrived on the scene and arrested both men. Six other men were caught later that night in relation to a case of rioting, and investigations are ongoing.
For their quick thinking and devotion to duty, the trio were lauded by the Singapore Police Force in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Nov 25) evening.
The post has since received more than 8,000 likes and shared over 1,200 times.
SGT Khairi, who admitted he had little experience in chasing suspects, said he responded "because help was needed".
As for SSGT Fareez, he said he had acted out of instinct as a police officer.
"I feel that it is my duty to protect the public and nab the suspects. Of course, I was able to do so with the help and cooperation from my Home Team colleagues and I am thankful for that," he added.
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