This week's report from local police.
October 11 A DRIVER travelling south on SH3 near the Big Apple, Hangatiki lost control of their vehicle and crossed the centreline twice before hitting a barrier on the bridge over the Mangapu River. The blue Toyota Vitz spun 360 degrees and was narrowly missed by a northbound vehicle. A MESSAGE expressing animosity towards police was graffitied inside McDonalds Ōtorohanga. POLICE attended a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Taupiri St and King St East in Te Kūiti. A Honda Civic failed to give way at the roundabout and crashed into the side of a Nissan Tiida. The driver of the Honda was taken to Te Kūiti Hospital for a check up. POLICE were called to breach of firearms conditions in Pureora Forest Park near Taumarunui.
October 12 A SPEEDING 1981 Mazda 626 rotary was clocked doing 137km/h in a 50km/h area in Ōtorohanga. The driver was signalled by police to stop on Te Kanawa St but fled onto SH31. The car was located a couple of kilometres out of town where the driver failed to take a corner and crashed into a ditch. The driver was arrested and charged with excess breath alcohol third or subsequent, (meaning the judge must consider jail), reckless driving and aggravated failed to stop. The car was impounded and the driver is due to appear in Te Kūiti District Court today. A PURPLE Nissan Tiida veered off SH30 east of Benneydale and hit a bank at about 11.25am.
October 13 A SHED door at an Ōtorohanga childcare centre was damaged sometime between October 10 and 13. A local resident reported seeing a couple trying to break into the shed and asked them to leave, which they did. A hole was left in the side of the shed. Police enquiries are continuing. ROCKS and eggs were reported to have been thrown at a house on Hill St, Te Kūiti. Guttering was damaged by the rocks. A MAN was arrested for a spate of graffiti in Taumarunui.
October 14 THE driver of a 2010 silver Holden Captiva stopped at 12.20am on SH31 near Ngutunui Rd, Ōtorohanga District gave false details to police. He was later located at a Hamilton address and arrested on a warrant. He was subsequently charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine utensils and providing false information to police. He was remanded in custody. TWO businesses in Ōtorohanga were burgled at about 1.20am. An office window on Maniapoto St was forced open and approximately $500 was stolen from the till. On Progress Dr, the front door to an office was forced open. It appeared the office had been searched but no items were reported stolen. POLICE arrested a 38-year-old man after shots were fired on Tapuae Rd, Honikiwi at 7.30pm. The man was stopped in his vehicle at the intersection of Honikiwi Rd and SH31 and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful hunting and assault. His rifle was seized. A MAN was arrested in Taumarunui for breaching his bail conditions and was transported to Hamilton District Court.
October 15 A TE KŪITI resident reported her wallet being stolen from a service station in Ōtorohanga. THREE men have been arrested and charged with kidnapping after an incident in Te Kūiti where a car is alleged to have been stolen. A 22-year-old and 25-year-old were also charged with aggravated robbery. A 28-year-old was charged with kidnapping, common assault, theft of an ex-car and non-aggravated robbery. They were all due to appear in Hamilton District Court this week. October 16 A MAN was seen smashing a window at a shop on Te Kumi Rd, Te Kūiti and climbing through it. Police arrested a 28-year-old man, the same one who was involved in the alleged kidnapping and robbery, and charged him with burglary.
October 17 THE driver of a white Audi was reported to police for throwing an alcohol bottle at a truck windscreen near the intersection of SH3 and Waitomo Caves Rd, Hangatiki at about 10am. The truck windscreen was smashed. THE door to the St John ambulance depot in Te Kūiti was reportedly damaged after a male was banging and pushing on it at 11.15am. A COMMERCIAL address on Omimiti St, Kāwhia was burgled overnight. A mess was made of the shop and items were stolen including confectionery and food. A YAMAHA 700 quad bike was reported missing from a rural address on SH3, Piopio. COPPER wire was stolen from a yard on Waitete Rd, Te Kūiti.
POLICE were called to six family harm episodes in Ōtorohanga, two in Te Kūiti, one in Piopio and nine in Taumarunui between October 10 and 17.
