Investigation after officer knocked out and man seriously injured at parties

Police and ambulance staff help an injured partygoer. Picture / Bradley Ambrose

Police are investigating after an officer was knocked unconscious and a 20-year-old man left with massive fractures to the head after brawls at two separate parties in West Auckland overnight.

The officer was injured after police responded to reports of a brawl in Cliffview Drive, Green Bay, where a large number of youths were partying.

A police spokesman said about 30 youths were on the road when they arrived and the group quickly swelled to more than 100.

"As the police began to close down the party and move the large assembly on, a police officer was hit by a bottle directly on the forehead. It knocked him unconscious," spokesman Kevin Loughlin said.

The officer was taken by ambulance to North Shore Hospital with wounds to the head and concussion. He has since been released will be off duty for several days. Three people were arrested.

In the second incident, police went to Waimumu Road, in the suburb of Massey, at about 12.12am.

"On arrival they found a large number of youths drinking, brawling, damaging cars, throwing bottles, and generally acting in a reckless and disorderly manner," Mr Loughlin said.

"It is estimated there were as many as 50 or more youths and young people who were engaged in large scale fighting."

Officers found a 20-year-old Maori male who had been knocked unconscious and seriously injured during the brawl.

He was taken to Auckland Hospital where his condition was this afternoon described as critical but stable.

Police said he had been seriously assaulted with an unknown weapon and had massive fractures to the head. Ambulance medics worked on the victim for more than 45 minutes at the scene before he was transported to hospital.

Police have been interviewing witnesses to the large scale brawl. Four males have been arrested and will appear in court this week on assault and disorderly behaviour charges.

- NZHERALD STAFF