A P-fuelled man went on two separate rampages through Te Puke in which he allegedly attempted to steal a logging truck, smashed cars, abused people and stole from businesses.
Witnesses described how they heard a man ``ranting and raving'' as he made his way through the town.
The 25-year-old unemployed man was seen stomping on the roofs and bonnets of six cars parked outside Molly O'Connors restaurant on Jellicoe St at 9.30pm on Friday night.
He then walked down the street to the Sushi and Juice Bar where he began abusing and swearing at patrons. He entered a neighbouring takeaway shop where he threw tables and chairs around.
The man was arrested and held in custody overnight at Tauranga Police Station.
He was released on Saturday morning and returned to Te Puke about 8.30am.
Abusing and intimidating the public, the man picked up a chair from outside a cafe and smashed the window of a parked car, with the owner inside.
He then went to the Shell service station where he began spraying bottles of soft drink about and pouring it over himself. He threw chocolate bars at the female attendant and demanded cigarettes. He allegedly smashed the till and stole the contents.
He took off his shirt and jacket and went down the street where he jumped into the cab of a logging truck while the driver was inside a lunch bar. The man started the engine but, unable to operate the air brakes, stalled the vehicle and got out.
Acting Te Puke Senior Sergeant Nigel Gray struggled to explain the P-fuelled man's actions.
``Had he been able to get that logging truck mobile I hate to think what would have happened,'' he said.
Mr Gray said the man was making comments to police that he had taken methamphetamine. He was unsure if the man topped up on the drug in the morning, following his release from Tauranga Police Station.
When a police officer arrived on Saturday morning, the man stuck his head in the window of the police car and demanded the officer's uniform. He also allegedly tried to smash the police radio.
The man ran off and was chased by the police officer. The officer was assisted by the public to contain the man and arrest him in Harris St at 8.40am.
Sushi and Juice Bar owner Shona Ua-Marsh said she heard the man ``ranting and raving'' down the street on Friday night. She was holding a staff function to celebrate the opening of her business and saw the man enter the takeaway shop next door.
``He was yelling [at the owners],'' she said.
``It wasn't safe for anyone to approach him.''
A 25-year-old unemployed Te Puke man is due to appear in Tauranga District Court today on 12 charges relating to the two rampages.
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