Fugitive now in custody

A fugitive on the run after a policeman was brutally assaulted has handed himself into police.

Walter George Tauatevalu, 36, handed himself into Counties Manukau Police at 9pm tonight, and will appear in court tomorrow morning in relation to the alleged assault of a police sergeant last night, a police spokesperson said.

The officer was allegedly attacked from behind and then had his head repeatedly stomped on, Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher told reporters today.