2 Aug 2010

Man arrested after attack on police officers in Wairoa

3:32 pm on 2 August 2010

Police in the Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa have charged a 29-year-old man with assaulting several officers after he was stopped for a breath alcohol test.

Sergeant Matt King says the motorist had failed a breath test at about 2.40am on Sunday and had been asked to accompany a female constable to the police station when he attacked her.

The man allegedly threw her to the ground and dragged her a short distance along the road as he tried to walk away.

Sergeant King says the constable's partner and another officer were also assaulted when they went to help. He says the man spat at them after he was handcuffed.

The female constable suffered bruises and grazing, but was returning to work on Sunday.

The accused man is due to appear in the Wairoa District Court on Thursday on several charges, including one count of driving with excess breath alcohol levels, four of assaulting police and three of resisting arrest.