Friday, 19 March 2010 - 3:59pm |
National News

Arrests in Hamilton following abandoned pursuit

1 min read

A man currently being interviewed by Hamilton Police faces a variety of driving charges following an abandoned pursuit and several reports from the public about dangerous driving.

Sergeant Phil Ruddell of the Hamilton Strategic Traffic Unit said events began when a member of the unit attempted to carry out a routine vehicle stop on Grey St in Hamilton East.

"The driver has pulled over his black late model Jaguar saloon but instead of stopping has then suddenly accelerated, carried out a U-turn and sped off down suburban streets at high speed.

"The pursuit, managed by the Police Northern Communications Centre, continued on to SH1 between Hamilton and Cambridge but was abandoned due to the offender's high speed which was recorded at being over 150km/h."

Several Members of the public phoned Police about the nature of the offender's driving which included high speeds and travelling in the wrong lane despite the pursuit having been abandoned.

Mr Ruddell said in the end Police local knowledge helped with locating the driver and his passengers.

"We believed we knew the address the jaguar was likely to be heading and our suspicions were confirmed when the car was found hidden at a Mary Church rd address and three people were located hiding inside the house.

"The driver was arrested and faces driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and failing to stop charges.

"Our enquiries into the event are continuing as we believe a person linked to the address who is wanted by Police had been travelling as the third passenger in the car."

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