Residents attack cops as they hunt escapee

An alleged gangster and criminal who escaped from jail got residents of Mitchells Plain to turn on cops to help protect him.

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Cape Town - Cops have hunted down and caged one of their most wanted criminals after he escaped from jail.

In a shocking twist, the man got residents of Mitchells Plain to turn on cops to help protect him.

Suspected gangsters in Malan Street, Eastridge, stoned a police vehicle as they tried to keep the long arm of the law away from alleged American’s gangster Ikeraam “Talla” Etalla.

But cops eventually managed to nab him, with a top official saying: “We will get you despite attempts by communities who try to protect known gangsters and drug lords.”

Etalla was previously convicted of kidnapping and assault and received a five-year suspended sentence.

At the end of January, he was arrested for business robbery but escaped out of holding cells at Lentegeur police station together with four other suspects.

The suspects, aged between 21 and 33, were wanted for possession of drugs, robbery with a firearm, theft of a motor vehicle and robbery.

Police have caught the four other suspects, and on Friday they cornered Etalla.

However, the slippery suspect evaded arrest by firing his gun on cops before jumping onto the rooftops and walls of nearby houses.

He fell through one roof and cut himself, but still managed to escape.

On Saturday, cops arrived in Malan Street, where community members clashed with them, damaging one vehicle in the process.

Police eventually caught Etalla, and he is now facing an additional charge of attempted murder for shooting on police.

He is expected to appear in court this week.

Mitchells Plain Station Commander Cass Goolam slammed residents for trying to protect the suspect.

In a post on Facebook he said: “Elements in the community of Malan Street in Eastridge attacked the police and damaged police vehicles with the aim of protecting a criminal, a gangster who’s killing the same community.”

Daily Voice