Wanted man found after Stoke crash

A Nelson man sought by police in connection with a number of arsons in the area has been arrested after the van he was driving crashed in Stoke.

Police were looking for Benjamin Samuel Trathen to speak to him about a series of arsons around the area over the past few days.

They were also seeking a warrant to arrest Trathen for possession of a restricted weapon.

Inspector Brian McGurk, area commander for Nelson Bays police, said police found Trathen following a crash at a Stoke intersection about 9.30am.

Police had earlier been chasing Trathen in a Sunrise Cleaning Services van which had been reported missing from the Nelson Museum.

Mr McGurk said Trathen had eluded police chasers during two pursuits this morning. He had also avoided road spikes.

A police station wagon suffered a dent in the back during the chases.

Mr McGurk said the earlier pursuits had been abandoned and police were not actively chasing Trathen when he crashed.

Trathen faces a number of charges , he said.

- NZPA