Police collar cuffed fugitive

Police have caught a man on the run from for police for two days still wearing the handcuffs he was given at his first arrest.

A Northland man on the run from police for two days after being clocked driving at 200km/h had a continuous reminder that it was only a matter of time before the long arm of the law nabbed him - a set of handcuffs.

The 28-year-old fugitive was arrested at the point of an electro-shock weapon on Saturday still wearing the cuffs an officer had managed to place on his wrist before he had taken off.

A highway patrol officer had been investigating a suspicious vehicle on State Highway One near Salmon Rd, Ruakaka on Thursday. The officer had tried to arrest the driver on an outstanding warrant, but he had allegedly driven off at high speed. Police say the driver was clocked by a traffic camera van travelling at more than 200km/h.

On Saturday afternoon, as a result of information from the public, the driver - a patched gang member - was found at an Otaika property and arrested.

It appeared attempts to remove the handcuffs had failed and instead had damaged the lock mechanism and the handcuffs had tightened.

Northland police posted on their Facebook page confirmation they had arrested the man who seemed to be still wearing the police accessory on his arm.

Whangarei firefighters visited the Whangarei police cells about 3.30pm on Saturday and used a grinder to remove the handcuffs.

Daniel Murray appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Monday on charges of theft, assaulting police, resisting arrest, escaping from custody, failing to stop, reckless driving, wilful trespass, breach of supervision and failure to answer court bail. He was remanded in custody to appear again on August 26.

Last Thursday there were three high-speed chases in Northland that police linked to gang members.