Tonga Police have launched an investigation after a routine traffic stop near Tonga National University (TNU) turned violent, leaving an officer hospitalized.
As Kaniva News previously reported, the incident occurred last Friday morning when officers stopped an unregistered truck driven by a man allegedly not wearing a seatbelt and operating without a valid license.
Police now says in a statement that a traffc incident occurred while a checkpoint was conducted near TNU in Kolofo’ou involving Tonga Police officers and a member of the public.
It said a police officer stopped a vehicle due to a traffic violation where the driver was seen to have an unbuckled seatbelt.
Upon further inspecton, it was confirmed that the vehicle, a light rigid truck, was unregistered and the driver did not have a valid driver’s license.
When instructed to step out of the vehicle, the driver refused to do so on a number of occasions, and it will be alleged that the driver then initiated a physical altercation with the officer.
This resulted in a struggle taking place on the roadside and the driver was arrested.
The driver and one of the police officers were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
“Regrettably, the police officer has been assaulted in a separate incident, having been targeted by a member of the public following this incident”, it said.
“Tonga Police assure the public that a thorough police investigation is underway. We urge the public to remain calm and allow due process to take its course”.
