CCTV video showed a woman dragged by the hair by a man into a car in Ngaruawahia. Photo / supplied
CCTV video showed a woman dragged by the hair by a man into a car in Ngaruawahia. Photo / supplied
Warning: The video and story contains violence that some readers may find upsetting.
A terrified woman seeking refuge in a Ngāruawāhia bottle shop was violently assaulted last night before being dragged outside by her hair and bundled into a waiting car.
CCTV video obtained by the Herald shows the woman running into the shop just before closing seeking protection from a man who was chasing her.
The Bottle-O Ngāruawāhia shop owner, Ash Parmar, said the woman came in, pleading for some help and protection, before the man entered the store, hit her and dragged her out.
Parmar said staff from neighbouring takeaway shops attempted to step in, but the man continued to beat the woman before bundling her out of the shop and into the vehicle.
“He comes in and drags her by [the] hair,” he said in a Facebook post.
“She really didn’t want to go with him and he beat her before shoving her into [the] car.
“My staff and neighbouring takeaway owner tried to stop [the attack] but the guy looked high as a kite so they were scared also.”
Parmar said staff called police but officers did not arrive at the scene for 30 to 45 minutes.
According to Parmar, the police patrol car had to come from Cambridge because all of the Huntly/Ngāruawāhia units were busy.
He said he was disappointed by police staffing levels in the town.
He was scared for the woman because of the way she had been hit by the man.
Ngāruawāhia police received a report of an incident on Great South Rd about 8.45pm last night. Photo / Google
“I put it on Facebook so the community knows and they can help if they know her.
“Nobody should be hit in the face like that.”
Parmar had given a statement to police. He said police knew the woman’s identity, but understood officers were yet to locate her.
“They also remain deeply concerned for her wellbeing and are looking for her.”
In a statement, Ngāruawāhia police said they received a report of an incident on Great South Rd about 8.45pm last night and police were dispatched about 8.46pm.
Inquiries were conducted soon after to locate the vehicle, including monitoring the area where the incident was reported and retrieving CCTV from the liquor shop.
Asked what concerns police had for the woman’s safety and if anyone had been arrested, police responded: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish full circumstances of the incident. No arrests have been made at present.”
Meanwhile, Waikato Police are appealing for sightings of a missing woman who was last seen in Ngāruawāhia about 8.40pm last night.
The 27-year-old is described as being about 165cm tall, of thin build, with black long hair, and of Māori descent.
“Police and [the woman’s] friends and family have concerns for her safety and wellbeing.”
Anyone with information on the woman’s whereabouts should contact police on 105, or via https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 using ‘Update My Report’.
