Officer set upon in 'cowardly attack'

File photo / NZH

A "cowardly" man who attacked a Dunedin police officer, leaving him with concussion, bleeding to the face, and bruising, is still at large.

The 40-year-old officer was discharged from Dunedin Hospital this morning after he was set upon by a 21-year-old male passenger, who was travelling in a car he stopped on the corner of North Road and Allen Street at 11.44pm.

The vehicle was being driven by a 20-year-old woman, who had three male passengers, aged 21, 22 and 27, Acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan told NZPA.

"During the vehicle stop, the 21-year-old male approached the police officer from behind and struck him with a punch once to the back of the head whilst he was talking to the female driver.

"The police officer was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground. The 21-year-old male continued to strike the officer while he was on the ground until one of the other male passengers intervened," Mr McLellan said.

The attacker, who was known to police, ran away and was still on the run this morning.

"It was a cowardly and violent attack on a police officer who was working alone completing a routine vehicle stop.

"This is particularly nasty as he was attacked from behind, and the assault continued whilst he was on the ground.

"The other passengers did not know why he reacted like that as they all commented on the relaxed mood of the police officer."

Mr McLellan said alcohol appeared to be a factor. The other two male passengers were intoxicated and the female driver initially failed a breath test, although she passed a formal test, he added.

Mr McLellan said there had been numerous similar attacks on police officers in Dunedin in the past six months.

- NZPA