Police have arrested a gang member who allegedly rammed a Police vehicle before fleeing across west Auckland late last night.
A stolen vehicle was seen travelling on Titirangi Road and a Police unit signalled for the driver to stop.
°Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ West Area Prevention Manager Inspector Kelly Farrant says the driver initially stopped.
¡°At this point the driver reversed into the Police vehicle behind it, causing some minor damage,¡± she says.
¡°The vehicle has then taken off at speed towards Avondale.¡±
No Police staff suffered any injuries.
Inspector Farrant says the Police Eagle helicopter was deployed to the area, and quickly located the stolen car.
¡°Eagle spotted the vehicle travelling at high speed through Kelston, and relayed its position to ground units as it entered the Northwestern Motorway at Massey and headed towards the city.
¡°Spikes were successfully deployed in the Avondale area, but the vehicle continued on rims through the Waterview Tunnel, eventually exiting and smashed through the gate of a school in Mount Roskill.¡±
The 37-year-old driver, a patched Head Hunter, was taken into custody at the scene without further incident.
¡°Our staff also located a loaded crossbow and several arrows in the stolen vehicle,¡± Inspector Farrant says.
¡°The man will appear in the Wait¨¡kere District Court today charged with assault, operating a motor vehicle recklessly and failing to stop for Police.
¡°I acknowledge and thank the range of Police staff involved in responding to this incident. Their decision making was spot on and resulted in not only a safe and swift conclusion to this incident but one less dangerous weapon off the street¡±.
ENDS.
Tony Wright/51½ÖÉä
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