Briefly: Police seize scooter, row leads to charge

Police seize scooter

Police have seized a motorised scooter they believe is stolen. Whangarei police Acting Sergeant Craig Burrows said officers stopped a 16-year-old male riding the scooter across Mair Park on Tuesday evening. If you are missing a scooter contact Constable Christian Stainton at Whangarei police station 09 430 4500.

Row leads to charge

If you are going to argue with your partner after a few drinks - don't get in a car and drive off. It's sage advice one Whangarei man probably wishes he had been given after he was nabbed by police on Tuesday. Acting Sergeant Craig Burrows said a man had an argument with his partner at a Tikipunga home then drove off and was stopped by officers near Kamo. He had a breath alcohol level of 796 micrograms per litre of breath- nearly double the legal level for drivers 20 and over. In a similar incident, a man who allegedly assaulted a female then drove off was stopped by officers in Kamo about 7.20am yesterday and recorded a breath alcohol level of 578mcg.

Accused stays in custody

A man charged in relation to a series of bag snatches in Whangarei has been further remanded in custody. Colin Daniel Tito, 23, machine operator, of Kensington, re-appeared in Whangarei District Court before a Justice of the Peace yesterday on 20 charges. He was remanded in custody until June 18. The charges include stealing three cars, plus five unlawful taking of vehicles and two of intentional damage to vehicles by fire. Six charges relate to robbing people of their bags between December last year and March.

3400 calls to Healthline

Northlanders made more than 3400 calls for Healthline advice in the January-March quarter, about 4 per cent of all calls the service received. Some calls were about vomiting, rashes, fever and diarrhoea in children. Others were questions about medicines, abdominal pain, and chest pain. Healthline receives an average of 1000 calls daily on freephone number 0800 611 116.