Alleged Tauranga police chase offender's case adjourned

Cameron Bryan Smith, who appeared in Tauranga District Court today, had his case adjourned until later this month. Photo/File

A man is accused of ramming a police car and trying to ram a second after a police chase
which allegedly resulted in injuries to two police officers remains behind bars.

Cameron Bryan Smith, 29, from Auckland, made his second appearance in the Tauranga District Court today by an audio-visual link from prison.

Smith had been expected to enter pleas to eight charges, but his lawyer William McNicol was unable to take full instructions from his client, the court heard.

He faces one charge each unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, refusing to permit a blood specimen to be taken, and a threat to kill, plus two further charges each of injures another person with reckless disregard for the safety of others and using a vehicle as a weapon.

Smith was granted an adjournment by Judge Thomas Ingram to enable him to further discuss the charges with his legal counsel, who was unavailable to come court today.

Police allege two police vehicles were smashed into during a police chase in 2nd Ave about 6am on January 9 after Smith allegedly failed to stop when signalled to do so.

A short chase allegedly ended when the pursued vehicle ended up crashing further down the same road between Cameron Rd and Devonport Rd, police said.

Two police cars were damaged during the alleged pursuit and a female police officer and a policeman both suffered minor head and neck injuries.

Judge Ingram further remanded Smith in custody to next appear in court on January 30.