Four arrested following dangerous pursuit in Auckland this morning

Inspector Grant Tetzlaff, Auckland City Police:

Auckland Police have charged four people following an incredibly dangerous pursuit last night where one of our Police officers was allegedly hit by the offending vehicle and lifted off the ground.

At around 3am this morning, Police attempted to stop a stolen Mazda Demio and commenced a pursuit after it fled from officers on the Southern Motorway.

The vehicle was driving in a very reckless manner and then began travelling in the wrong direction on the motorway.

Police pulled out of the pursuit however Eagle Helicopter monitored it from above.

At the Te Atatu interchange, the fleeing driver allegedly drove straight at a Police officer who was attempting to deploy road spikes, striking the officer with the vehicle and lifting him off the ground.

Remarkably, our officer suffered only minor injuries and is doing well despite being very shaken by this incident.

The officer is being supported by their colleagues and welfare.

The vehicle has then stopped and a male passenger has gotten out of the car and allegedly attempted to steal a van travelling in the opposite direction.

The driver was assaulted and Police were then able to intervene.

The offender was chased and tasered before he was arrested.

The driver then drove off before Police were able to speak with them.

The three other occupants of the vehicle including the driver continued on the motorway however it was successfully spiked by Patiki Road on the North-Western Motorway and all three were taken into custody.

The four of them now face a number of charges including;

18 year old male charged with endangering transport, assault with intent to rob, theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated failing to stop, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

17 year old male charged with endangering transport, assault with intent to rob, resisting arrest, unlawfully gets into motor vehicle, assault with a weapon, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of instruments for conversion.

15 year old male charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.

13 year old male has been referred to Police Youth Aid

The 17 and 18 year old are expected to appear in the Auckland District Court on 27 April 2018.

The 15 year old will be appearing in the Auckland Youth Court.

Police would also like to get in touch with the driver of a van that these offenders allegedly attempted to steal, and ask that he make contact with Sergeant Craig Cartwright on 027 668 3669.

Inspector Grant Tetzlaff, Area Commander of Avondale Police, says it is incredibly lucky that we are not dealing with a situation today where a person or persons suffered serious injuries.

“This behaviour is reckless, dangerous and quite frankly those involved were putting lives of innocent members of our community in danger as well as our staff.”

“Our staff come to work every day to keep people safe and they do not deserve to be driven into.

This is absolutely appalling and I am sure that our community will join Police in condemning this type of behaviour,” says Inspector Tetzlaff.

ENDS

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