Officers restrain woman after walking track confrontation

Officers were forced to restrain a woman who was intimidating a man on a walking track.

Three police officers had to restrain a Whangarei woman accused of intimidating a man on a walking track.

Vivienne Shepherd, 56, of Onerahi, was charged with intimidation and resisting arrest after she confronted a man walking three dogs on the Waimahanga Track at Onerahi on February 2. However, the first-time offender has had the charges dismissed after she was offered diversion by police.

Shepherd had been granted interim name suppression on February 11. It lapsed on Friday.

A minute presented to the court said Shepherd had confronted the man, held a camera within 2cm to 3cm of his face, and told him, "Go home, you're not wanted in this country. Go home, you're here to break the law".

The man tried to walk away from Shepherd, who verbally abused him about being an immigrant and walking dogs on the track.

Two days later, police went to Shepherd's home. She declined to give a statement, denied doing anything wrong and was "belligerent" and "argumentative", the minute said. She resisted arrest, and it took three police officers to restrain her.

On Friday, police Sergeant Peter Rankin informed the court Shepherd had successfully completed diversion. The charges were dismissed.

Defence lawyer John Day said Shepherd did not wish to apply for a continuation of name suppression.