Drunk drives towards playground, stopped by Certis Cisco officers.

He was horrified when he saw a car mount the pedestrian pavement.

And worse, it was rolling slowly towards a playground near Beach Road where children were playing and residents were mingling.

The Certis Cisco auxiliary police officer, Lance Cpl Simon Laurance, 26, who was patrolling the area with his colleagues, rushed over.

"All I could think of was to stop the car," he said.

He told The New Paper yesterday that in the incident that happened around 9pm on Friday, the vehicle was a mere 50 metres from the playground.

"It was a dangerous situation. I was worried the car would ram into the playground," he said.

"I was also concerned for the driver's safety. He could have crashed into a pillar and injured himself."

Lance Cpl Laurance said he used a torchlight to get the driver's attention, and to get him to pull over.

Thankfully, the driver complied.

"I opened his car door and asked him to turn off his engine and step out of the car," said Lance Cpl Laurance.

He called his supervisor on duty, Sargeant Yusaini Selamat, 47, for backup. Once the latter arrived, they questioned the man and informed the police, he said.

The driver appeared lost, said Lance Cpl Laurance.

"When we asked him if he knew where he was, he replied that he was at home in Marsiling," he said.

Sgt Yusaini recounted how the man apologised and begged them to let him off. But he stood his ground.

When the Traffic Police arrived, they administered a breathalyser test - which the driver failed.

When the man was told that he would be charged with drink driving, he started behaving aggressively.

SLAP

Sgt Yusaini said: "He was so angry, he used his left hand to slap his forehead. He was sitting on the floor and was rocking to and fro."

They had to handcuff him "to prevent him from further hurting himself" when he ignored their repeated warnings to stop being violent.

Sgt Yusaini added: "He said, 'Can you tell my mother her son is dead?' He was so upset because it's his mother's birthday."

Police said the driver was arrested for suspected drink driving and investigations were continuing.

Commander of the Certis Cisco's Auxiliary Police Force, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lee Chee Chiew, said: "We are proud that our Auxiliary Police Officers were alert and reacted swiftly to stop the drunk driver from causing an accident at the playground.

"We will praise and recognise them for their good work."