Frightened by the angry mob of people surrounding him after he hit a motorcyclist, a 27-year-old man stole a police car and fled the scene leaving behind his wife and children.
Earlier, the suspect driving a Proton Saga had rammed into a traffic light in Tanjung Minyak, Malacca, before the car veered into the victim's motorcycle.
An angry mob began to surround the suspect in his car and had threatened to hurt him for his wreckless driving.
A team of police officers were sent to the scene after they received information about the accident from members of the public.
Police took action by rescuing the suspect from the angry mob and placed him in the police car.
"While the officers were saving his wife and children, who were screaming in the Proton Saga, the suspect drove away the police car instead," said state police chief Datuk Ramli Din.
Four patrol units were deployed in the hunt for the suspect who was arrested one hour later some 10km away from the accident scene. The suspect has been under remand for four days according to Section 379 of the Penal Code for vehicle theft.
THE STAR
