A suspected gangster has been arrested and a riffle earlier reported to have been stolen from a Nairobi cop recovered in Athi River, Machakos County.
The suspect, 19, was smoked from his hideout within Embakasi estate in Athi River South subcounty following a tip-off from one of his friends on Wednesday.
Athi River South sub-county police commander Jos Mudavadi told the Star that the suspect was nabbed after his girlfriend had locked him inside a house from outside and alerted the police of his threats to shoot her dead.
The matter was reported to Athi River police station on OB NO: 47/13/12/2023 at 1.30 pm Wednesday as the recovery of a firearm, handcuff, and arrest of the suspect.
"It was reported by the suspect's girlfriend that her boyfriend had assaulted and threatened to shoot her with a gun and she had locked him in the house. Police officers from the station and DCI personnel led by the OCS Athi River police station rushed to the scene located within the Embakasi area and found the suspect having been locked in the house from outside," Mudavadi said.
The police boss spoke with the Star by phone hours after the incident.
He said a thorough search was conducted that led to the recovery of a pistol, magazine loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, one handcuff, two handcuff keys, one spent blank cartridge, and a motorbike.
Mudavadi said the items were recovered from a bedroom crevice near the roof, roof, bed, bedroom floor, and in the house respectively.
The suspect was arrested and detained at Athi River police station.
Mudavadi said the DCI had launched investigations into the matter.
He said preliminary investigations had revealed that the recovered rifle was stolen from a cop based at a Nairobi police station in August 2023.
A report seen by the Star indicated that the senior officer lost the gun on August 6, 2023.
The matter had been reported at the station as a loss of firearm incident report.
According to the report, the officer lost the riffle from his house in Nairobi where he had placed it on the chair before sleeping off at night only to realize the next morning that it was missing.
The DCI Embakasi had been investigating the matter until Wednesday when it was recovered in Athi River following the man's arrest.
