'Loud bang', car crashes on footpath as person flees police in Auckland's Ponsonby

A man crashed into a police car while fleeing from officers after an assault on Auckland's Ponsonby Rd.

A witness told the Herald they heard "a loud bang" and then a car fled from the underground carpark of the Quest Ponsonby hotel near Western Park on Sunday.

They crashed the car on a footpath and fled on foot.

A police spokeswoman said police were called to a report of an assault or family harm incident on Ponsonby Rd at around 2.28pm.

"A man has left the address in a vehicle and while attempting to evade police he has crashed into a police vehicle".

"No police staff were injured," the spokeswoman said.

"There is some minor damage to the vehicle. The man has then decamped from the vehicle on foot into an address and was arrested shortly after by staff."

A car that was disabled by police flees the Quest in Ponsonby Rd. Photo / Marty Melville

The car flees police in Ponsonby. Photo / Marty Melville

The car flees police in Ponsonby. Photo / Marty Melville

A car that was disabled by police flees the Quest on Ponsonby Rd. Photo / Marty Melville

Sarom Ros, the owner of Early Bird Bakery, located next to the Quest, said he and his partner hid behind a store counter when they saw police with guns.

Police look for the driver of a car in Ponsonby. Photo / Marty Melville

Police look for the driver of a car in Ponsonby. Photo / Marty Melville

A damaged police car that was hit by a fleeing driver. Photo / Marty Melville

The damaged car. Photo / Marty Melville