Anthony Darvill (left) and Graham Yorke congratulate each other on their awards. Photo / Greg Bowker
Anthony Darvill (left) and Graham Yorke congratulate each other on their awards. Photo / Greg Bowker
Graham Yorke never thought buying a bottle of water could be so dangerous.
After stopping at the New Windsor shops in Auckland, the 57-year-old Tauranga man saw an extremely angry man trying to drag another driver from his car, punching, kicking and slamming the car door on his head.
"Asfar as I was concerned, there was no option but to intervene," Mr Yorke said.
What he didn't know was that the attacker was drunk, high on P and had already called police as he wanted officers to "end things for him". He also had a 30cm knife hidden in his pants.
Yelling to distract the man, Mr Yorke - with 20 years' experience in the security industry - then physically confronted him, before the man ran back to his Jeep.
While he kept the man at arm's length against the vehicle, Mr Yorke became aware of the concealed blade when the man threatened to kill him if he came any closer.
Minutes later, the police - including the armed offenders squad - arrived and as Constable Anthony Darvill, 27, approached, Mr Yorke warned him of the knife.
"At that point," said Mr Darvill, "the guy lifted his shirt and pulled the knife out from his pants. He pointed it at me and took a few steps, so I pointed the Taser at him.
"He started to chase Graham, so I shot him in the back with the Taser."
The man was arrested and charged.
Yesterday, both Mr Yorke and Mr Darvill were honoured at an awards ceremony attended by the Minister of Police, Judith Collins, Auckland City Mayor John Banks and Superintendent George Fraser, commander of the Auckland City police district.
