Man resists arrest, bites cop

TRYING to arrest a Mutare man saw a police officer getting more than what he had bargained for after the suspect turned violent and bit him on the right hand last week.

Blessing Mandiyanike (30) was spotted by Constable Terrence Makaza stealing eight bags of potatoes from a local fast food outlet in the early hours of January 27.

Cst Makaza confronted him and he resisted being arrested.

Prosecuting, Mr Donald Mudadirwa, said: "When Cst Makaza approached and tried to arrest him, Mandiyanike struck the officer with his palm on his right cheek.

"Cst Makaza could not let him go and kept on holding him with his right hand.  The accused then bit the officer's hand that was holding his jacket.

"Mandiyanike managed to escape, but Cst Makaza gave chase and finally arrested him."

Cst Makaza was injured by Mandiyanike's bite and is receiving treatment for a suspected infection.

Mandiyanike pleaded guilty to the unlawful entry and theft charges he was facing. Presiding over the matter, senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, adjourned it to today for sentencing.

Asked why he had bitten Cst Makaza, Mandiyanike said he was possessed by an evil spirit when he committed the offence.

"I can't help it Your Worship. It was not me who bit him, but a spirit that possessed me. The same spirit led me to break into the store-room to steal the potatoes.

"I was not in control of my body," said Mandiyanike.

The eight stolen bags were recovered.