Hot tempers and cold beer are proving to be a dangerous
combination for police, as several officers have been attacked by
drunks over the past few weeks, including a 60-year-old woman who
bit two cops.
Drunken Shanghai residents have even caused problems for police
in neighboring cities.
Last week, police in Nanjing of Jiangsu Province were attacked
by seven drunks, five of whom were from Shanghai, after pulling
them over for drunk driving. All seven will be held in police
custody for at least 30 days for preventing police from performing
their duties.
Police had to use pepper spray to end the attack after one woman
bit an officer's hand and kicked another in the crotch.
The incident began last Monday night when police pulled over two
cars driving erratically.
As an officer bent over the hood of one of the cars, the driver
suddenly hit the accelerator, carrying the policeman for 10 meters
before stopping the vehicle.
Police finally managed to get the drunks back to the police
station, where the real chaos began.
As well as attacking police, the group allegedly threatened
several witnesses who had gone to the police station to help in the
investigation.
Police said they had drunk three bottles of liquor and more than
20 bottles of beer before heading out to a club to continue their
night of fun. They were pulled over along the way.
In Shanghai, the Yangpu District People's Court said it has
sentenced several people for beating policemen after getting drunk
recently.
In early hours of June 12, a woman got into a loud argument with
her boyfriend after drinking. Her neighbor called police.
When police arrived, the boyfriend kicked one in the crotch. The
officer urinated blood for several days after the incident. The
boyfriend, whom police would only identify by the surname Han, was
sentenced to six months in jail.
On the night of June 2, a sales manager surnamed Liu was
involved in a traffic accident after having a few drinks with
dinner. He refused to take a breathalyzer test when police
arrived.
During a struggle with police, Liu punched one officer in the
face several times, leaving him with a bloody nose and black eye.
Liu was given four months in jail.
In May, a 60-year-old woman beat three policemen who came to
stop her fighting with others.
The woman's son had invited some friends over for dinner at
their home and they all had several drinks. As the friends were
getting ready to leave, the woman, surnamed Xia, noticed her cell
phone was missing and accused them of stealing it.
A fight broke out and neighbors called police. When three
officers arrived, Xia began to beat them, biting two. She was given
75 days behind bars.
(Shanghai Daily July 30, 2007)