6 Nov 2019

Police station, cars rammed: Officers open fire on pursuit vehicle

10:13 am on 6 November 2019

A 55-year-old man has been arrested after officers were threatened and several cars and the gates of a police station were rammed in a chase.

Police generic

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Acting Waikato District Commander Inspector Andrew Mortimore said police were called about a family harm incident in Morrinsville after 1am, with reports a man had been drinking for hours and was threatening to drive.

When they arrived, a driver rammed a police car and implied he would injure officers with a spade and knife before driving towards the town.

When at the police station, the man rammed the station gates and multiple police and civilian vehicles.

The driver rammed another police car at a petrol station and a police dog vehicle on Tahuna Road

An officer shot once at the vehicle, hitting the tyre, before the man was tracked to Top Road in Tahuna and arrested about 3.20am.

Police said the Independent Police Conduct Authority was being notified, and it was fortunate no one was hurt.

The man is expected to appear at Hamilton District Court today.