KOTA KINABALU: Policemen in Beaufort district were forced to fire two shots at an allegedly drunk and drug-high driver as he tried to crash into them on Thursday (July 15) evening.

       Beaufort OCPD Deputy Supt Yusoff Zaki Yaacob said prior to the shooting, a team of policemen had instructed the 57-year-old driver to pullover for an inspection.

       “However, the suspect started to reverse his vehicle and tried ramming into the policemen as they were talking to him,” he said.

       Policemen had to fire two shots at the tyres of the car in an attempt to make the suspect stop.

       DSP Yusoff said the suspect later stopped his car and tried to escape on foot, but was caught by policemen.

       A scuffle broke out between them before the suspect was restrained, he said.

       “When asked why he did that, the suspect said he was afraid of getting arrested as he was drunk and had just done drugs,” he said.

       A further inspection was conducted on the car, where policemen found a knife and machete kept inside.

       “We also found that the suspect has five previous convictions on various criminal offences,” DSP Yusoff said.