While happy to have recovered a stolen caravan worth tens of thousands of dollars, a senior Hamilton Policeman says one officer was lucky to escape with only minor injuries as an offender fled this morning.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Neville Ross of the City's Tactical Crime Unit said officers went to a Ngaruawahia address at about 9.45am in search of a caravan worth over $80,000, stolen over the past weekend.
"During the course of their search a caravan stolen from the same premises a month previously was found. At this time 40-year-old man has arrived at the address in a white Holden Commodore.
"While being questioned the man has become aggressive towards the officers and an altercation developed during which time pepper spray has been used in an attempt to subdue him."
Mr Ross said the spray was ineffective and Police retreated from the house while the man returned to his vehicle.
"The officers then attempted to stop him starting his vehicle and driving off. A second man then came out of the house and tried to assist the driver in fleeing and at this time the reversing car has pinned one of our officers against a wall before the driver accelerated away.
"Our officer suffered arm and leg injuries and is currently being assessed at a medical centre, his injuries are believed to be of a minor as opposed to serious nature. The man from the house was arrested and will appear in the Hamilton District Court on Friday while the offender in the car remains at large."
Mr Ross said while pleased to have recovered the stolen caravan it was more pleasing to note that recently introduced Officer Safety Alarms, which were activated during the struggle, worked and all his staff were safe.
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