Pair in court after officer assaulted with radio

Senior Constable Alan Daly. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A man and a woman are to appear in Hastings District Court this morning after a Hawke's Bay police officer was punched, stomped on and had his radio smashed into his face yesterday.

Community Constable Alan Daly suffered facial injuries during the attack in Clive, 10km northeast of Hastings, yesterday afternoon.

Police said today Mr Daly had been discharged from Hawke's Bay Hospital and was recuperating at home. He suffered a fractured eye socket and a possible broken nose. A decision on whether he required surgery would be made in the next few days.

A 30-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man have been charged with aggravated wounding, theft of a car and a separate charge of theft involving an unrelated incident in Taupo. Police said other charges were pending.

Hastings area commander Inspector Dean Clifford said Mr Daly had gone to speak to the occupants of a car, which had been reported to be carrying two people involved in a shoplifting spree in Napier.

The man allegedly got out and king-hit him from behind, knocking him to the ground.

The woman then got out of the car, allegedly stomped on Mr Daly and began smashing his police radio into his face.

Other police officers arrived on the scene and the man and the woman were arrested.

Mr Daly, a 25-year police veteran, was conscious when ambulance staff arrived and he was taken to hospital with a suspected broken nose and cheekbone.

He has been the sole-charge officer in Clive for 10 years.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the assault strengthened the case for police to carry firearms, but Police Minister Judith Collins said the nature of yesterday's assault was such that an officer's gun may have been taken from him.

- NZPA