Police chase leaves two officers injured, three arrested

A police chase early this morning left two officers injured and three suspects under arrest after drugs were allegedly seized at a checkpoint in Laqere.

Police said the joint operations team manning the Laqere checkpoint had directed a vehicle to stop, but the driver refused and fled towards the Tovata/Makoi area.

The suspects later drove back towards Suva and into the checkpoint, striking a police officer.

The pursuit ended in a multi-vehicle collision involving police and the suspects a few metres from the checkpoint.

One officer on checkpoint duty sustained serious injuries and is admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. A second officer, who was travelling in a police vehicle, is being treated at the Valelevu Health Centre.

The three suspects — one of whom has a known criminal history — are also admitted at CWM Hospital under police guard.

A search of the suspects’ vehicle resulted in the seizure of white substances believed to be methamphetamine, along with alleged housebreaking tools.

Police said joint task force operations would continue, warning that attacks on officers involved in the operation would not be taken lightly.