An Auckland man will appear in court on multiple serious driving charges today after a 4WD was allegedly used to repeatedly ram a police car during a traffic stop, police say.
The incident early yesterday morning badly damaged the patrol car, smashing its front bumper and bending and twisting itshood, but leaving its occupants uninjured.
Police officers had signalled for the driver of the allegedly stolen 4WD to stop after it was seen running a red light near Carbine Rd in Mt Wellington about 2.20am yesterday, Inspector Rakana Cook said.
“One of our frontline units signalled this vehicle to stop, and after driving erratically it came to a stop”, said Cook, the relieving Counties Manukau East area commander.
“It’s at this point the four-wheel drive was allegedly used to repeatedly ram our patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, no police staff were injured.”
A 44-year-old man will appear in court today charged in relation to the ramming of a police patrol car during a traffic stop. Photo / NZ Police
Subsequent inquiries led police to a property on Puhinui Rd in Papatoetoe last night, and where a “person of interest” was found, Cook said.
“The man attempted to flee on foot from our staff but he was all out of options.”
This patrol car was repeatedly rammed during a traffic stop. Photo / NZ Police
A 44-year-old man was arrested and will appear in Manukau District Court today on two charges of assault with a blunt instrument, resisting police, failing to stop, unlawfully taking a vehicle and reckless driving.
