A 30-year-old man is facing serious charges after the overnight incident.
A 30-year-old man is facing serious charges after the overnight incident.
The driver of a vehicle reported stolen at gunpoint fled from police before driving dangerously across Auckland, turning off the vehicle’s lights and reaching high speeds on residential streets overnight, police have said.
The 30-year-old was eventually stopped when he lost control and crashed into median dividers soon after beingspiked in northern Waikato, Acting Auckland City district commander Grant Tetzlaff said.
“As officers approached the vehicle, the sole occupant had barricaded himself inside.
“Officers observed live ammunition on his lap. Police deployed a taser, before being able to extract the man from the vehicle.
“He was taken into custody and transported to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition after receiving injuries from a dog bite during his arrest. A search of the vehicle located two handguns and a large amount of live ammunition," Tetzlaff said of the overnight incident.
“It is pleasing that these firearms are now out of circulation in our community.”
The driver was first spotted about 11.40pm, when a “vehicle of interest” was seen on Dominion Rd in Sandringham.
“This vehicle had been reported stolen at gunpoint earlier in the day from the South Auckland area.”
The police Eagle helicopter spotted the vehicle as it entered the Southern Motorway at Newmarket, with those on board watching as it travelled towards East Tāmaki.
The police Eagle helicopter was involved in efforts to catch the driver.
When the driver exited the motorway onto East Tāmaki Rd, police officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it “took off at speed”, Tetzlaff said.
“The driver was seen driving in a dangerous manner through South Auckland, turning off its lights and reaching high speeds on residential streets.”
After re-entering the motorway at State Highway 20, the driver travelled south towards Te Kauwhata, he said.
“Police units were able to spike the vehicle, and it continued for a short distance before losing control and crashing into wire median dividers.”
