Policeman's hearing over abandoned car delayed

A senior Rotorua police officer has been further remanded on bail after a police car was found crashed into a power pole and abandoned on July 1.

Sergeant Keith Mitchell, head of Rotorua's dog section, has pleaded not guilty to careless use of a motor vehicle and making a false statement that an offence was committed in relation to the incident.

He was due to appear in the Rotorua District Court yesterday, but his lawyer, Jonathon Temm, asked for the scheduled status hearing to be put back until October 17. Mitchell did not appear.