A 39-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly driving his vehicle into two police vehicles, and assaulting police officers.
Police said the incident began today after the man allegedly fled from police who were conducting a traffic stop at Five Cross Roads, Claudelands, Hamilton.
Officers responded and located the vehicle after complaints from members of the public about the man’s manner of driving.
At about 10.15am, the vehicle was located at the Five Cross Roads shops where police staff tried to speak with the driver.
“After refusing to engage with Police, the driver then fled from the traffic stop and subsequently spikes were successfully deployed,” police said.
“The vehicle then fled to nearby Claude Street, where police converged and located the man driving in a dangerous manner on the road committing sustained loss of traction.
“While police were responding to the vehicle on Claude Street, the driver deliberately drove his vehicle into two of the responding police units, causing significant damage to all three vehicles involved.”
No one was injured as a result of the vehicle collisions, police added.
Police then managed to successfully block in the offending vehicle and safely bring it to a stop to “mitigate the risk the driver posed to the public”.
After resisting arrest, police said it deployed tactical options such as a Taser and pepper spray.
During the arrest, two police officers were allegedly assaulted by the driver. Police said their injuries were minor.
The man is scheduled to appear in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.
He is charged with a failure to remain stopped for an enforcement officer, operating a motor vehicle causing sustained loss of traction, driving in a dangerous manner, assaults person with a blunt instrument, assaulting police, and resisting police.
