Sex attacker pursued across city

Photo / APN

An accused sex attacker is behind bars after allegedly trying to run over two police officers during a dramatic high-speed chase across Auckland.

Police say the pursuit began after Martin Mulipola, 25, refused to pull over for a routine stop in the North Shore suburb of Hillcrest at 9.30am on February 11. He was wanted for a brutal attack on a South Auckland woman in November.

According to court documents, he detained her, sexually assaulted her repeatedly and threatened to kill her.

Police allege Mulipola was asked to pull over as he drove a late-model BMW, valued at $34,000 and believed to be stolen, along Anne St.

An officer in a patrol car followed for a short distance but lost sight of the car.

About 10am the BMW was seen on Wairau Rd heading towards Greenhithe, police say.

The police helicopter joined the pursuit and road spikes were set up. But Mulipola allegedly tried to run over the two officers laying the spikes.

Relieving area commander Inspector Steve Kehoe said the officers were forced to jump over a barrier to avoid being hit.

"It was a close call."

The Eagle helicopter followed the car as it travelled more than 30km south towards Onehunga. Police cars trailed at a safe distance guided by the helicopter as the car reached speeds of more than 100km/h, drove through red lights and went the wrong way round a roundabout. Kehoe said Mulipola stopped the car and ran into the Dress Smart mall chased by a police dog unit.

Police said he was pepper sprayed after gesturing that he had a weapon, but escaped.

He ran down a drive in nearby Arthur St, where he brandished a large garden fork at officers before being stunned with a Taser and arrested.

"He threatened to assault staff with the garden fork," said Kehoe. "We had tried talking to him, we had tried [the spray] and that hadn't worked. So we used the Taser."

According to court documents, police found a .22 rifle in the BMW.

Mulipola is facing 15 serious charges at Manukau District Court, including those relating to the sexual assault and the pursuit. He has been remanded in prison to reappear later this month.