American woman arrested after pepper-spraying cops, firemen

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — An American woman was arrested after pepper-spraying several police and firemen at her rented condominium along Jalan Persiaran Dutamas yesterday evening.

Before attacking the officers, the 42-year-old suspect had already sprayed her landlady’s husband across the face when he tried entering the unit.

Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner R.Munusamy said the incident began when the 44-year-old landlady had gone to the unit with her husband and a locksmith to change the locks on the doors. 

He said the building management told the landlady the occupant had gone out on Thursday around 2.30pm.

The can of pepper-spray seized following the drama Kuala Lumpur February 2, 2018. — Picture courtesy of KL Fire & Rescue Department

Assuming the condominium unit was empty, the landlady then proceeded to enter the property.

Munusamy said when her husband and the locksmith tried changing the locks, they found the door stuck, as though a heavy object was behind obstructing it.

“They kept on trying to open it, until the door suddenly swung open with the suspect standing behind.

“The suspect then sprayed the husband across his face, who immediately felt the sting in his eyes and all over his body,” he said.   

Munusamy said the landlady alerted police who arrived at the scene together with firemen, all of whom were also sprayed with pepper-spray minutes upon reaching.

“As soon as the officers knocked on the door, the women opened and pepper-sprayed everyone at the entrance before shutting it again,” he said.

He said a total of eight policemen and five firemen were affected by the pepper-spray, and later received treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

It is understood firemen were assigned to the case in the event that they needed to break down the door of the condominium unit to apprehend the woman.

“Later on an officer finally managed to calm her down and then advised her to turn herself in.

“She later admitted to spraying the officers and firemen, but for reasons we are still trying to establish,” he said.

He said police have since seized a spray bottle labelled “Bear Attack Pepper Mace” from the suspect’s unit. 

Munusamy said police have informed the United States Embassy of their citizen’s arrest and impending remand.

He said the case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.