A man is in custody following an incident overnight in which a Police pursued a fleeing driver through the Blenheim CBD for about 16 minutes reaching speeds up to 65kmh in a 50km zone.
The driver came to attention when he was seen by a Patrol car to be driving the wrong way down Market St shortly before 11pm. Police activated their lights but the driver fled.
Shortly after the vehicle came to a stop at a roundabout and Police vehicles moved in and blocked its access. The driver then rammed one of the Police vehicles and drove off.
He eventually stopped at a petrol station where Police again blocked his access and the driver again rammed a Police vehicle, however Officers were able to remove the driver from the vehicle and arrest him.
On searching the vehicle Police discovered a child, along with a loaded firearm, drugs and other weapons.
The 41 year old man has been charged with failing to stop for red and blue lights; assaulting a person with a blunt instrument; possessing methamphetamine; possessing instruments for the consumption of methamphetamine; resisting Police; possessing a knife in a public place; unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful possession of ammunition and driving in a dangerous manner.
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