The scene where four vehicles – including three police cars – were rammed.
Photo: RNZ / Bill Hickman
Four vehicles, including three police cars, were rammed by a driver attempting to escape officers in the Lower Hutt suburb of Epuni earlier this evening.
Five officers received minor injuries in the “quick-moving” incident, police said.
A 49-year-old man has been arrested and will face multiple charges in court on Wednesday.
Wellington District Commander Superintendent Corrie Parnell said police were called to Trinity Ave at 5.25pm on Tuesday after a report of suspicious behaviour.
Parnell said a vehicle of interest was seen leaving the area, but officers signalled for it to stop.
“It did not stop and instead, drove into the police vehicle and then into two other police vehicles that arrived to assist.
“A member of the public’s vehicle was also hit by the man’s vehicle. Thankfully the member of the public was uninjured.”
The driver then fled the scene on foot, but was arrested soon afterwards.
Photo: RNZ / Bill Hickman
Parnell said five police staff had been assessed for minor injuries, and three police vehicles suffered significant damage.
“Our staff go to work every day to help make our communities safer, and behaviour such as this where police staff and vehicles are targeted is unacceptable,” said Parnell.
“I am incredibly proud of the work from our staff in this quick-moving event where a vehicle was used as a weapon against Police, creating a massive risk to the safety of everybody involved.”
The arrested man will appear in the Hutt Valley District Court on Wednesday, facing three charges of aggravated assault, a charge of indecent assault and failed to stop for police.
Parnell said further charges have not been ruled out.
An RNZ reporter at the scene said shards of glass and mirror were scattered across the stretch of Oxford Terrace between Brees and Mitchell Streets.
Emergency services were diverting traffic from the scene and escorting residents to their homes within the cordon. At about 10pm a tow truck was beginning to remove the vehicles from the street.
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