Police assaults: Officer pinned

Otara man Walter George Tauatevalu appears at Manukau District Court this morning. Photo / Chris Gorman

A police officer was injured after being pinned to the wall by a fleeing car in Hamilton this morning, soon after a serious attack in South Auckland which put another officer in hospital.

Sergeant Simon Tate remains in Auckland Hospital after an attack in Otara on Saturday night which broke all the bones in his face, and left him with serious throat injuries.

He will have surgery this week, after which police hope to know more about the extent of his injuries.

Walter George Tauatevalu, 36, who was wanted for questioning over the incident, handed himself into Counties-Manukau police last night and appeared in court today, charged with attempted murder and two charges of male assaults female.

Further south, a Hamilton police officer narrowly escaped serious injury today when a fleeing car pinned him against a wall.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Neville Ross said officers went to a Ngaruawahia address at about 9.45am in search of a caravan worth over $80,000, stolen over the past weekend.

"During the course of their search a caravan stolen from the same premises a month previously was found. At this time 40-year-old man has arrived at the address in a white Holden Commodore.

"While being questioned the man has become aggressive towards the officers and an altercation developed during which time pepper spray has been used in an attempt to subdue him."

Mr Ross said the spray had no effect. The officers then retreated from the house while the man returned to his vehicle.

"The officers then attempted to stop him starting his vehicle and driving off. A second man then came out of the house and tried to assist the driver in fleeing and at this time the reversing car has pinned one of our officers against a wall before the driver accelerated away.

"Our officer suffered arm and leg injuries and is currently being assessed at a medical centre, his injuries are believed to be of a minor as opposed to serious nature. The man from the house was arrested and will appear in the Hamilton District Court on Friday while the offender in the car remains at large."

- Newstalk ZB / nzherald.co.nz