Armed man injures officer

A police officer was injured while trying to subdue an armed man in the Bay of Plenty last night.

Police were called to a house in Katikati after reports of a man smashing windows.

When they arrived they were confronted by the 39-year-old man armed with a fence paling in each hand, Senior Sergeant Carl Purcell said.

He was asked to drop the paling but advanced on police and pepper spray was used on him with no effect.

The man then hit one of the police officers on his shoulder with a fence paling before three police officers subdued him enough for him to be handcuffed.

Mr Purcell said as a result of his struggle the man was taken to Tauranga Hospital for observation.

One of the police officers was treated for bruising to his shoulder and a cut knee.

- NZPA