29 Dec 2014

Court appearance on kidnapping charge

3:24 pm on 29 December 2014

A man charged with kidnapping and running from the police before being tackled by a shopper has appeared in court.

Stephen Tongalahi, 24, appeared at the Auckland District Court today, charged with kidnapping, assault with intent to injure and causing grievous bodily harm.

Police said the charges related to three female victims.

Mr Tongalagi was arrested on Boxing Day in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill.

Police have previously said that when they tried to arrest him, he ran off and a shopper who saw what was happening joined in and tackled him to the ground.

Judge Christopher Field remanded Mr Tongalahi in custody to reappear again next month.