By CHRIS BRAMWELL in Taupo
A Taupo man wanted by police used his 10-year-old son to shield himself from a police dog when discovered in rural Waikato this week.
The boy received puncture wounds and bruising after he was bitten on the leg by the dog.
Theattack followed a police chase through the Waikato which reached speeds of up to 150km/h.
Cambridge police pulled over 28-year-old Nicholas McLean after someone reported him acting suspiciously on Wednesday afternoon.
Before the officer could get to his car, Mr McLean took off down State Highway 1B, which runs between Cambridge and Gordonton.
The chase was eventually called off and police set up cordons in the area.
When Mr McLean was spotted at a property, a police dog tracked him to a nearby gully where he was hiding with his son.
Police said they were not aware the boy was with his father when they sent the dog in.
Cambridge police Sergeant Gordon Grantham said Mr McLean began to beat the dog around the head with a 20-litre bucket containing 2.5kg of cannabis.
"He 'aggroed' the dog and it wouldn't let go and so consequently the dog handler had to go and relieve the dog from the child," he said.
Taupo police constable Mike Henderson said Mr McLean was high on methamphetamine at the time and continued to abuse police in Hamilton. A search revealed he had hidden a small amount of cannabis on his body.
The man, who police allege is a gang member, appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday charged with eight burglaries, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis for supply, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He was remanded in custody until Monday.
The burglaries were alleged to have occurred in Taupo, Tirau, Putaruru and Cambridge.
