Northland officer allegedly roughed up

File photo / Martin Sykes

An off-duty policeman driving on Kamo Rd missed being hit by a car then allegedly had his shirt ripped off as he investigated.

Whangarei police Sergeant Neil Pennington said the officer was waiting to turn off Kamo Rd about 10.20pm on Saturday when a southbound car just missed his vehicle.

He saw the car go down the hill and hit a traffic island before stopping in a driveway.

All four men exited the car when the officer approached. One man allegedly assaulted the officer by dropping his shoulder, pushing and then swinging at him. As the officer tried to make an arrest, the same man ripped the officer's shirt pulling the collar tight around his neck. On-duty officers arrived and the man was arrested.

A 20-year-old Raumanga man was charged with resisting police, assault and refusing a blood test third or subsequent. A 20-year-old faces a charge of disorderly behaviour and driving with an excess breath-alcohol level.