A motorist allegedly threw a diving bottle through the windscreen of a police car after being told his vehicle would be impounded.
The Napier man was stopped during a routine police vehicle check yesterday morning.
Acting Sergeant Shane Rowland said the man was found to be driving without a valid licence when he was pulled over on Ellison Rd about 9.30am.
"On hearing that the vehicle he was driving was to be impounded, he took a dive bottle out of his car," Mr Rowland said.
The driver allegedly threatened to damage property with the dive bottle.
Mr Rowland said police warned him not to cause any damage but he lost his temper.
"He ignored the warnings and threw the dive bottle through the windscreen of the police vehicle," Mr Rowland said.
Other officers were needed to help stop the incident.
The driver is due to appear in Napier District Court on Wednesday on charges relating to intentional damage and driving matters.