Police, firemen sprayed with bear repellent at condominium

KUALA LUMPUR: Eight policemen and five firefighters experienced stinging pain in their eyes after being sprayed with a type of liquid bear repellent by a woman at a condominium in Mont Kiara, Jalan Dutamas Raya, here yesterday.

Sentul District police chief ACP R. Munusamy said the incident occurred at about 3.15pm when the policemen and firemen went to the premises to assist the house owner in breaking down the main door of the condominium unit, which was purportedly leased to an American woman.

"Prior to that, the unit owner went to the condominium with a locksmith to repair the padlock at the door after being informed by the management that it was damaged.

"Initially, the owner thought there was no one in the house, but when he and the locksmith wanted to open the door, they found the door locked and when they pushed open the door, they were sprayed with the repellent on their face," he told Bernama when contacted.

According to Munusamy, the owner was shocked by the aggressive action of the occupant, and therefore contacted the police and the Fire and Rescue Department for their assistance.

"The policemen and firemen who subsequently arrived, then knocked on the door and were also sprayed with the bear repellent.

"They were all rushed to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) for treatment," he said.

Following that, he said a police team went to the scene and was able to coax the 44-year-old suspect to surrender.

Munusamy said the suspect admitted to spraying the repellent at the policemen and that the police were investigating the case under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue director Khirudin Drahman confirmed that five of his firemen experienced smarting eyes after being sprayed with the repellent. — Bernama