Clayton Shereni
MASVINGO – A police officer who was deployed to maintain order at Glow fuel station in town had a bad time recently after an agitated motorist who had lost patience at the slow-moving queue attacked him.
Owen Dzinodya (30) who resides at House number 1912 Tembwe Street, Aphiri, appeared before Masvingo magistrate Rufaro Mangwiro facing charges of assaulting or resisting a peace officer.
Dzinodya pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to come back to court on November 07 with a witness.
It is the State’s case that on October 20, Alex Mutamburirwa (35) a police officer stationed at Masvingo Central Police Station was accompanied by support unit details to maintain order at Glow Petroleum fuel station along Robertson Street.
The court heard that while doing his duties, the complainant approached the accused who was alleged to be jumping the queue and causing mayhem.
Upon being confronted by the officer who was trying to cool him down, it is alleged that the emotionally-charged Dzinodya grabbed the cop and dragged him to the ground before biting him once on the left thigh.
In the scuffle, the police officer was injured and got his trousers’ pocket torn off. The assailant then got into his vehicle, locked the doors before other officers finally managed to arrest him.
Andrew Ndaramira represented the State.