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'Completely unacceptable': Police escape injury in alleged car ramming

Author
Denise Piper ,
Publish Date
Tue, 17 Dec 2024, 1:25pm
A police car was allegedly rammed in Whangārei as a driver in a stolen vehicle tried to get away. Photo / Dean Purcell
A police car was allegedly rammed in Whang膩rei as a driver in a stolen vehicle tried to get away. Photo / Dean Purcell

'Completely unacceptable': Police escape injury in alleged car ramming

Author
Denise Piper ,
Publish Date
Tue, 17 Dec 2024, 1:25pm

Police officers put life and limb on the line to arrest a man who allegedly went on a crime spree in Northland鈥檚 Dargaville.

The drama began on Monday when a vehicle, stolen during an aggravated burglary in Dargaville, was seen travelling on Whang膩rei鈥檚 Port Rd about 11.30am.

It was then spotted on State Highway 1 in Whang膩rei near Rewa Rewa Rd, said Whang膩rei-Kaipara area commander Inspector Maria Nordstrom.

鈥淭he driver proceeded to ram a police vehicle,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hankfully no one was injured and the damage was minimal. However, this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable.鈥�

The vehicle fled towards Maungatapere and was spiked near Tangowahine Valley Rd. With the tyres spiked, the vehicle was abandoned on Ounuwhao Rd and the driver attempted to flee on foot.

鈥淒elta, the police dog unit, tracked the alleged offender along nearby railway tracks, where he surrendered,鈥� Nordstrom said.

鈥淭his was yet another great example of police working together to hold people to account for their actions. We will continue to use all resources available to us when these situations arise.鈥�

A 38-year-old was due to appear in Whang膩rei District Court on Tuesday facing a raft of charges including three counts of assaulting a person with a blunt instrument, failing to stop and dangerous driving.

The arrest comes after a busy week for police staff in Dargaville, with five arrests alone on one day on a variety of matters.

This included a 56-year-old man arrested for an alleged arson of a fence on a rural property in Te K艒puru. Three other men were arrested in the area for outstanding warrants to arrest.

 for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.

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