A man fleeing from Whangarei police ran through backyards, funeral mourners and across a school ground before officers managed to catch him thanks to the help of the bereaved.
Whangarei police Sergeant Grant Rouse said police were at a Tikipunga house speaking with a man in relation to a domesticmatter just before 11am yesterday.
During the police visit the man opted to leap over a fence and run off, Mr Rouse said.
A police dog and handler were at the property and began to track the fleeing man. Other officers were quickly on the scene and the man was seen running around the streets of Tikipunga, before heading back to the original property and then through bush towards Otangarei.
Mr Rouse said the man allegedly took a green four wheel drive vehicle from a relative's house and drove off towards Kamo. An officer stopped the vehicle on Western Hills Drive but the driver allegedly ran off through funeral-goers gathered in the carpark at Morris and Morris funeral home. The mourners were able to point the officers in the right direction.
A 32-year-old man was charged with breaching a protection order, assault with intent to injure and wilful damage. He also faces a charge of escaping police custody.
He was to appear in the Whangarei District Court today.
Mr Rouse thanked the members of the public who were able to assist officers.
