Woman admits charges of setting dogs on officers

A woman has admitted setting her dogs on police and smashing a patrol car windscreen during a drunken attack in Papakura this week.

Tania Leanne Stewart pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of assaulting constables with her two dogs, when she appeared in the Papakura District Court yesterday.

The dogs were ordered destroyed.

Police were called to a domestic dispute on Tuesday and arrived at Stewart's house to find the 27-year-old intoxicated, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said following the incident.

Mr Grimstone said Stewart encouraged the dogs to attack the officers, who retaliated with pepper spray.

When the spray had no effect the officers climbed back into their car.

But the dogs, called Tana and Cash, continued to lunge at the officers through the windows.

Stewart then climbed on to the bonnet of the police car and started kicking in the windscreen. Two more officers arrived and tried to negotiate with her.

When that failed they shot one of her dogs, injuring but not killing it.

Stewart was arrested but her dogs continued their attack and the wounded one was shot again.

She has been remanded on bail for sentencing next month.