'Tactical options' save day

Steve Burke.
Steve Burke.
A sole-charge police officer says he was not scared when an offender armed with a steel bar confronted him at an isolated rural property.

Senior Constable Steve Burke, of Ranfurly, went to the house following a call a man was smashing up the property.

The man - described by police as aggressive and unco-operative - went back inside the home as the officer tried to arrest him.

A .22 firearm was allegedly then fired by the man, and Snr Const Burke went back down the long driveway to await reinforcements, including the armed offenders squad, which was paged by the Police Communications Centre.

The man then drove down the driveway, got out of his vehicle and he pulled out a steel bar to threaten the officer as he went towards him.

Snr Const Burke, asked by the Otago Daily Times whether he was scared, replied: ''No''.

Armed with a Taser, he laser-painted the man - aiming the red light on the offender - who dropped the weapon and complied with instructions.

But as Snr Const Burke tried to handcuff the man, he resisted violently and managed to escape before being pursued by Snr Const Burke and arrested.

No-one was injured in the incident, including a male and female at the address.

Snr Const Burke played down the incident yesterday.

''You rely on years of experience and the tactical options available to you, keeping in mind that safety is paramount for everyone involved - the victim, the person you are dealing with and your own safety.''

He said the Taser was ''fantastic as a tactical option''.

''It's an invaluable tool for officers, not only because of its capability but also because it provides an extra degree of safety due to the fact that it records everything that happens.

"I've found myself in around half a dozen situations where it's been appropriate to present a Taser.''

Central Otago acting response manager, Sergeant Simon Paget, of Cromwell, praised the officer: ''Working alone, while back-up was en route, he managed to resolve the incident without any injury to himself, the offender or any member of the public.''

A 21-year-old has been charged with wilful damage, discharging a firearm near a dwelling, unlawful possession of a firearm, assaulting police with a weapon, resisting arrest, and escaping custody.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Dunedin District Court today.

• Senior Constable Peter Morris Umbers, of Ranfurly, was fatally bashed with his own PR24 baton after stopping a robbery suspect near the town on May 27, 1990.

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