TAWAU: Police fired warning shots, not exchanged gunfire, during an operation to arrest a robbery suspect in Kampung Titingan on Oct 9.
Tawau police chief ACP Rosdi Mat Jusoh said the incident, which went viral in a 1-minute-29-second Facebook video on Tuesday night, occurred when the suspect allegedly attacked officers with a metal rod and jumped into the sea to evade arrest.
The suspect, a foreign man in his 30s without valid identification documents, allegedly assaulted and tried to drown an officer during the chase, prompting the warning shots, while two officers were injured.
Rosdi said the operation targeted a suspect linked to an armed robbery and attempted rape involving an 18-year-old foreign woman, who reportedly lost two smartphones and RM434 in cash, with total losses estimated at RM3,500.
The suspect tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, and the case is being investigated under Sections 395, 397 and 354 of the Penal Code; the public was urged not to speculate and to contact investigating officer Insp Norhafizah Hussin at 012-527 9004 with information.
