Constable attacked in Waitara ambush

Police are hunting a man who broke a shovel across a constable's face in an attack in the Taranaki town of Waitara last night.

A routine traffic stop in a quiet suburb turned into a nightmare for the officer, who is in Taranaki Base Hospital with serious facial injuries, severe bruising and concussion.

Sergeant George White said the attacker was stopped about 8.30 pm after complaints about his speeding. A struggle ensued and he ran off.

The constable chased the driver behind a block of flats where he was ambushed.

The attacker smashed the constable in the face with the head of the shovel. When the handle broke, the man used it to continue the beating.

"He has hit him with enough force to break the shovel in two," said Sergeant White.

The noise of the blow attracted the attention of one of the flats' occupants, who was horrified to see the bloodied officer struggling to stand.

The witness, who did not want to be identified, said the man continued attacking the constable even after he had beaten him to the ground.

The force of the blows splattered blood up the outside walls of the flat and across the concrete driveway.

The witness said he feared for the safety of his young children, who were in the backyard enjoying a peaceful ending to Christmas.

The offender, who left his shirt at the scene, ran off towards East Beach. A police dog lost the scent of the offender at the beach as dozens of officers cordoned off roads.

Waitara was in the news last year when Steven Wallace, aged 23, was shot dead by Constable Keith Abbott as he advanced on the constable with a softball bat.

- NZPA