Police On the Beat
I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. A big thank you to all staff and emergency service members who worked tirelessly over the holiday period.
Chris Aspin
Over the past few weeks, King Country Police have been kept busy with a range of incidents, including sudden deaths, disorder events, family harm matters, and mental health-related callouts.
We attended a significant number of vehicle crashes across the district. Many were linked to drivers being caught out by heavy rain and failing to adjust to road conditions. Some motorists were extremely lucky to walk away without serious injuries. Staff have observed a concerning trend: vehicles entering corners at excessive speeds, resulting in loss of control. In several cases, vehicles left the road, became airborne, rolled, or collided with fences, trees, and other vehicles. These crashes are largely avoidable. We urge everyone to slow down, drive to the conditions, and take extra care on our roads.
Across the district, staff have been highly visible on the roads, responding to driving complaints involving tailgating, unsafe passing, and crossing the centre line. We’ve dealt with impaired drivers – young and old – and maintained a strong focus on speeding vehicles, unrestrained passengers and drivers, and distracted driving, including mobile phone use.
Police followed up with a 32-year-old male following a wilful damage incident in Ōtorohanga. He was arrested and charged without incident and transported to Hamilton to appear in court.
A 31-year-old male was arrested in Kawhia for breaching curfew and non-association conditions. He was taken into custody in Hamilton without incident and a 20-year-old male was arrested in Ōtorohanga after he was located in the township actively in breach of his court-imposed curfew.
A 33-year-old male involved in a fleeing driver incident in the King Country remains at large. He has active warrants and is expected to face further charges for escaping custody and burglary offences. This individual has been linked to stolen farm vehicles and other property.
Local staff are investigating several burglaries in Ōtorohanga, Te Kuiti, and Benneydale. Please remain vigilant – report suspicious vehicles or people and keep an eye out for your neighbours.
