'I'm no vigilante'

Izzy. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The Whangarei man who forced two suspected taggers to dance while he called police says he has the support of the country behind him.

Izzy the mechanic shot to fame after posting a clip on YouTube of Shane Petersen and another person dancing in his living room.

Two police officers showed up and joined in the humiliation. The men were filmed on a mobile phone.

Acting area commander Murray Hodson says the officers' conduct was below par. A senior detective has been assigned to investigate the incident.

But Izzy is adamant he and the officers did nothing wrong. The 37-year-old father of two, who is under investigation by police and would not give his full name, said he had received offers of free legal advice.

He said: "I don't want to be a hero. I am not a vigilante. There was no threat of physical violence and there were no weapons. My only intention was to humiliate these guys."

He said they were seen tagging by neighbours.

Hodson said: "On the face of it there was a lack of professionalism by those officers. I would expect better."

Petersen laid a formal complaint with police over his treatment. "The cops stood there and watched us dancing. They did nothing to make us stop dancing, they started laughing. One cop had to leave the house because he was laughing so hard."

One of the suspected taggers has been charged with wilful damage.