"Man arrested after attacking officer "

A 40 year-old Horowhenua man has been arrested after he assaulted a Foxton Police officer and set his dog on him at approximately 11:30am today.

The officer was called to the Foxton WINZ office after the man had been acting angrily and causing issues.

When the man was outside the building with his dog an officer approached him and he became aggressive.

The officer pepper sprayed the man and his dog however this proved to be ineffective.

The man has then punched the officer and set his dog on him.

During this altercation the officer has called for back up and was taken to the ground by the dog.

The man and his dog then left the scene in a vehicle and fellow officers came to the aid of their colleague.

A second police unit located the vehicle and signalled to the man to pull over however he fled from the officers to a Bainesse address.

The officers then arrived at the property and were confronted by the man who was wielding a metal bar and displaying threatening behaviour.

After attempts to appeal to the man to put the metal bar down failed, one of the officer's presented a taser at him and he has then surrendered and been taken into custody.

The officer sustained moderate to serious injuries to his entire body from the attack.

He is currently being supported by his family and colleagues and is receiving medical treatment.

Acting Manawatü Area Commander, Detective Inspector Chris Bensemann says: "We are rallying around our colleague who was simply doing their job when they have been viciously assaulted."

"This appalling and unprovoked attack on this skilled and valued officer shows the volatile nature of our work and how incidents we attend can quickly escalate."

A number of people witnessed the attack and officers are currently speaking to them.

The man will face a number of charges and his dog has now been seized by local animal control.

ENDS

© Scoop Media