Wanted man arrested after fleeing police near Hastings

Police arrested a 35-year-old man after a dramatic police pursuit involving road spikes and a tracking dog. Photo/Duncan Brown

A wanted man who fled police near Hastings has been arrested after a dramatic police pursuit involving road spikes and a tracking dog.

A police spokesperson said they located a man driving a car who was wanted by police on warrants about 1.54pm.

They indicated for the driver to pull over on State Highway 50A but he saw police and chose not to stop.

Police followed the vehicle for a short time as it continued along SH2 and Burma Rd in Te Hauke, Hastings.

They continued to an area where road spikes had been deployed, puncturing the tyres of the offending vehicle that eventually came to a stop.

The spokesperson said the driver, a 35-year-old local man, then ran from the vehicle but was soon tracked and located by a police dog.

He was arrested and charged with various driving-related offences including driving while suspended, driving in a dangerous manner, failing to stop when required and a firearms-related charge.

A witness, who did not want to be named, said he saw about 12 police cars and some police officers come out of a property on the corner of Burma Rd and SH2 with a firearm.

The man will be held in custody to appear in the Hastings District Court on Saturday.

Emergency services attended the scene of a crash where a ute smashed into a power pole outside Collision Repair Centre on Karamu Rd. Photo/Duncan Brown

Police were also called to a car crash on Karamu Rd, Hastings, at 6.40pm after a car smashed into a power pole outside Collision Repair Centre between Duchess Cres and Wolseley St.

Power lines were down and traffic control closed one road lane, redirecting northbound traffic down Duchess Cres while southbound traffic moved through the single lane.

A police spokesperson said St John Ambulance services were not required at the scene, indicating there were no injuries.

One bystander said they understood the driver of the ute had been doing skids in the carpark on the corner of Karamu Rd and Frederick St before leaving the area and smashing into the power pole.