A man critically injured when he hit his head after being tasered by police following a family harm incident in Wellington’s Khandallah earlier this week is now in a serious but stable condition.
Police were called to a bus stop on Cockayne Rd at around 12pm on January 9 after a man was seen holding a bladed object, damaging a bus shelter and threatening a woman who had a small child with her.
Officers arrived shortly after and attempted to engage with the man, said Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch.
“A Taser was deployed at the 32-year-old alleged offender, and he fell to the ground, hitting his head.”
Leitch said the man received immediate medical attention and was taken to hospital where he was initially in a critical condition. The 32-year-old is now in a serious but stable condition.
“The victim was also treated for a minor injury, believed to have been caused by the bladed object. Thankfully, the child was uninjured and both the woman and child are being provided with support.”
Leitch said this was a “volatile and unpredictable incident” where there was an “immediate threat to life”.
“We would like to thank the members of the public who called 111 without hesitation.
“Police are aware of others that assisted or witnessed the incident who have not yet spoken to police and we are appealing for those people to make contact with us.”
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority due to the nature of the injuries sustained.
