Officer bitten by teen squatter

A police officer is waiting for the results of medical tests after he was badly bitten on his arm by a teenage squatter.

The policeman was bitten by a 15-year-old boy in the back of a police car after three teenagers were found squatting in a house in Ross St, Hamilton.

Police said they were now waiting for the results of tests to see if the bite had a long term impact.

Several police were sent to the house after they were told of people squatting there.

The three teenagers were found and attempts were made to take them home, police said.

When police took a young girl and a 15-year-old boy back to the girl's home, they were told the boy was not welcome and the young couple refused to get out of the police car.

The boy became violent and bit the officer on his arm. His wound needed medical treatment.

The boy was then arrested and spent the night in police cells. He was due to appear in Hamilton District Court today on charges of assault, disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.

Acting Inspector Sandra Venables said the behaviour was unacceptable.

"This is the third incident of our staff suffering injury after being bitten by offenders this year. We don't tolerate that sort of behaviour from people's dogs and we will not tolerate it from people," she said.

- NZPA