KEY POINTS:
A 17-year-old Christchurch youth charged in connection with an attack on a lone police officer by hundreds of boyracers was remanded in custody after he appeared in court.
The 17-year-old was arrested for allegedly throwing the bottle that struck the officer during an attack involving boyracers on Friday January 31.
He appeared in Christchurch District Court yesterday to face charges of unlawful assembly and assault with a weapon, Sergeant Dean Lawrence said.
He was remanded in custody and will appear again on February 9.
Sergeant Nigel Armstrong was ambushed by up to 300 boyracers when he responded to a complaint in Wigram.
They threw bottles at him and fired at his patrol car with an air or slug rifle, forcing him to flee.
The incident sparked public outrage and Police Minister Judith Collins said the Government was considering a number of urgent measures to tackle the problem.
"The police are under no illusions -- he was basically ambushed and what really worries me is that if he had not been able to get himself out of that situation he could now be dead," Ms Collins told NZPA.
Mr Armstrong said later that the boyracers were listening to police scanners and were waiting, blocking his retreat before starting to throw bottles and then firing with an air or slug rifle.
"These people, commonly known as boyracers, they have now moved into the truly criminal sphere with their behaviour on Friday night."
- NZPA
