Female cop's nose broken at checkpoint

File photo / NZ Herald

A Whangarei policewoman is nursing a broken nose after she was allegedly assaulted while trying to arrest a woman at a breath-testing checkpoint.

A 28-year-old woman faces an assault charge after the incident in Whangarei on Saturday night.

Police said the officer was at a compulsory breath-testing checkpoint on Saturday night when a car approaching the checkpoint tried to evade police.

The police officer then went to investigate and spoke to the driver. While the policewoman was in the process of arresting the driver for allegedly supplying false details, a female passenger got out of the car and allegedly punched the officer a number of times. She ran off but was apprehended.

The policewoman was treated in hospital for a broken nose and is now recovering at home.

The arrested woman will appear in Whangarei District Court later this month charged with injuring with intent to injure.

Meanwhile, a police sergeant was punched in the nose three times while arresting a man on Sunday morning, police said.

Senior Sergeant Howard Clement of Whangarei police said a 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were involved in a domestic dispute early on Sunday when police arrived and asked the pair to calm down.

Mr Clement said the man allegedly punched the officer three times. The woman also allegedly assaulted an officer.

The man was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour, obstruction, resisting arrest and assaulting police, while the woman was charged with assaulting police and obstruction.