JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: A wrecked police patrol car, five shots and a dead body lend a dramatic start to the year for residents of Jalan Simbang in Taman Perling here yesterday.

It began with a routine call about a mentally unstable man who had run amok.

The family members of the 25-year-old man called the police to help restrain him when he turned violent yesterday morning.

Two policemen in a patrol car arrived at the house in Jalan Simbang at 9.20am and were immediately confronted by the suspect.

Johor Baru North police deputy chief Superintendent Mohd Akhir Ishak said the policemen tried to calm him down with the help of his family members but he ignored them and instead dashed towards the patrol car.

"He jumped in and drove off with the policemen chasing on foot," said Akhir.

"The suspect soon lost control of the car. He crashed into a parked car and several trees before coming to a stop at Jalan Simbang Lima.

"The suspect got out of the car and tried to escape on foot but was caught by the policemen."

Akhir said the policemen again tried to calm him down but the suspect became more aggressive and lunged towards them.

"The policemen fired four warning shots before shooting him once in the leg," he said, adding that the suspect died at the scene shortly after.

Police are now waiting for the post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.

He said they were also investigating if there was any element of negligence on the part of the two policemen leading to the theft of their patrol car.

It was understood that the suspect was from Sabak Bernam, Selangor.

He was sent to his uncle's house here three days ago to seek traditional treatment for his unstable mental condition.

He was said to have started behaving strangely since a week ago, but had only turned violent yesterday.