Cop fires pepper spray in a bar
Revellers in Mzuzu on Saturday night ran for their comfort while others stoned a police van after a senior mobile police officer unleashed pepper spray at Sports Café social joint.
Bartender Waleke Mkandawire and witnesses described the scene as horrifying, saying the law enforcer was coming from the Police Senior Officers’ Mess when he brought mayhem to the free-for-all club on St Denis Street.
In an interview yesterday, Mzuzu Police Station spokesperson Maurice Chapola described as “abuse of police resources” and “against the service’s standing orders” the conduct of unleashing the State-procured canister of the tear-provoking spray on tens of patrons that packed the dance floor.
Said Chapola: “We are not aware of the said case, but I can confirm police officers are only allowed to use pepper spray for self-defence, especially when faced with angry mobs or to disable dangerous criminals resisting lawful arrests.”
Although Chapola said he was ignorant of the incident, Sports Cafe proprietor Cephas Theu said he reported the matter to Mzuzu Police Station immediately people started flocking out of his joint.
Theu wants authorities to take appropriate action because he lost about K250 000 in potential sales due to the misconduct by an official employed to safeguard law and order.
“I make nearly K450 000 per night on a weekend, but I only managed K200 000 because most people fled the bar around 10.30pm which is basically the peak of business,” said the businessperson.
This is the second time customers have been subjected to torturous sprays in three months, except the previous offender was a ranger working with the Department of Forestry.
