Rotorua Police are speaking with the driver of a stolen vehicle after a sustained pursuit in the Rotorua and Eastern Bay of Plenty areas this morning.
Police utilised the Baytrust Rescue Helicopter to keep observations on the vehicle, after the pursuit was abandoned due to the dangerous nature of the offender’s driving. It had travelled from Rotorua, towards Paengaroa, then into Whakatane before heading through Edgecumbe and back towards Rotorua.
The vehicle, containing one man, ran over road spikes at Lake Rotoma on State Highway 30 and was then observed by the helicopter attempting to hide down a driveway. As a police unit approached the area to look for the offender the stolen vehicle left the driveway and rolled as it attempted to turn back onto the Highway.
A 27-year-old man from Rotorua has been arrested and transported to Rotorua Police Station.
Police would like to thank members of the public for their patience following a number of brief road closures put in place in order to safely stop the vehicle. .
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.