Special Patient Recaptured In Wairarapa

6 May 2002

Masterton Police assisted by the Wellington Armed Offenders Squad today arrested Allan Ivo Greer who escaped from Purehurehu (Porirua psychiatric hospital) on Saturday, 4 May.

Greer was a special patient detained under Section 115 of the Criminal Justice Act 1985.

Masterton Police were advised this morning of a sighting of Greer in Mauriceville, a small settlement approximately 30km north east of Masterton.

Two helicopters were used to transport police staff to the area.

Greer left a Mauriceville address where Police believe he had stayed the night prior to the arrival of AOS staff. He left in a car driven by the occupants of the address – a man and a woman. He jumped from the car while it was still moving prior to arriving at a police roadblock.

Greer was tracked by a police dog and was found hiding nearby. He was returned to the Masterton Police Station where he was treeated for minor dog bite wounds.

Greer was arrested pursuant to a Warrant to Apprehend a Patient issued from the Porirua Court on 5 May under the Mental Health Compulsory Assessment and Treatment Amendment Act 1999.

Greer will be returned to Purehurehu by police and Mental Health staff today.

A 55-year-old Masterton man has been interviewed by Masterton Police and as a result will be charged with assisting Greer to avoid apprehension. He will be charged as an Accesory After the Fact under the Crimes Act 1961.

He will be bailed to appear in the Masterton District Court at a later date.

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