Alleged Tauranga police chase offender behind bars

A man appeared in court today facing charges relating to an alleged police chase. Photo/file

A man is accused of ramming a police car and trying to ram a second after a police chase which allegedly resulted in damages to two patrol cars and injuries to two police officers.

Cameron Bryan Smith, 29, from Auckland faced eight charges when he appeared in Tauranga District Court this morning of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, refusing to permit a blood specimen to be taken, threat to kill, and two charges of injures another person with reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Smith also faced two further charges of using a vehicle as a weapon.

Police allege two police vehicles were smashed into during a police chase in 2nd Ave yesterdayafter Smith allegedly failed to stop when signalled to do so about 6am.

A short chase allegedly ended when the pursued vehicle ended up crashing further down the same road between Cameron Rd and Devonport Rd, police said.

Two police cars were damaged during the alleged pursuit and a female police officer and a policeman both suffered minor head and neck injuries.

Smith's lawyer William McNicol told Judge David Cameron that his client did not seek bail today and consented to be held in custody.

Judge Cameron further remanded Smith in custody to next appear in court on January 24 when the defendant would be expected to enter pleas to the charges.