Drivers face charges
Whangarei police caught a number of allegedly drunk or stoned drivers at the weekend. Police charged an 18-year-old man with drink-driving after the vehicle in which he was travelling hit a powerpole on One Tree Point Rd on Friday. The driver initially fled but later turned up and blew 912 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath when tested, police said. The legal limit is 150mcg. At a checkpoint on Western Hills Dr on Friday night, a 39-year-old man, failed a drug-impairment test. Officers searched his car and found 25 marijuana tinnies, Sergeant Neil Pennington said. The man will be charged with possession of cannabis for supply. A 32-year-old man was stopped early Saturday for driving at 125km/h along Riverside Dr, an 80km/h zone. The man will be charged with drink-driving and has had his driving licence suspended for 28 days for speeding.
Bad luck for trio
Friday the 13th seems to have inspired some bizarre and destructive behaviour, with two separate reports of window smashing. Police arrested a 16-year-old male at 10.30pm after he allegedly head-butted and smashed the window of Dominos Pizza on Water St. He was found intoxicated in the nearby Rose Gardens. Later that night a 19-year-old male kicked and smashed a large window at the old Wendy's store on Cameron St, injuring his foot. Both men were charged with wilful damage. Just after midnight, a 17-year-old male allegedly attacked two people in Cameron St Mall. He was charged with assault.
Sisters in strife
Police were called to separate cases involving pairs of sisters on Saturday morning. At 2.30am, two sisters arrived at the Mobil petrol station on Walton St where they became involved in an altercation with two males. The men assaulted the women, with one sister requiring reconstructive surgery at Whangarei Hospital. The 29-year-old woman was still in hospital yesterday. Sergeant Neil Pennington said if anyone witnessed the incident they should contact police. The second incident happened at 4am when two sisters, aged 33 and 35, were arrested for fighting on Vine St. One of the women was pepper-sprayed after she kicked her sister in the face.