Locals help police in Hamilton pursuit

A police officer was injured after the pursuit of a fleeing driver in Hamilton yesterday morning ended with a struggle in a dead-end street.

Hamilton police turned up at the 24-year-old man's Dryden Rd home with a warrant to search the property.

But the man came out of his house, jumped into his car and sped off, Sergeant Dale Smith said.

The offender's car was blocked by police cars. However, he rammed a patrol car and reversed into oncoming traffic before fleeing.

A mobile cordon was put in place as the driver reached speeds of 100km in peak hour traffic.

When the driver turned in to a dead-end street, the pursuit continued on foot through local properties.

Mr Smith said homeowners helped guide police in the right direction through their properties.

"He had an officer on one side and a police dog on the other, he put up quite a struggle during which one of our officers suffered a broken arm," Mr Smith said.

The man was arrested and faces charges of driving while disqualified, escaping police custody, resisting arrest, burglary and reckless driving.

- NZPA