A woman was "dragged violently" into a vehicle by a man in Papamoa this morning and escaped a short time later.
Sergeant Phil Gillbanks said police were called about 8.15am when a woman was seen being seriously assaulted by a man then violently dragged into a vehicle from the street.
The man and women were seen later at a different location and police were again called.
Mr Gillbanks said a short time later, the woman escaped from the vehicle and was helped by a member of the public and taken to the Papamoa Police Station.
The suspect was found by police in his vehicle in the Truman Ln area. He ran across the Tauranga Eastern Link Highway back toward Papamoa.