A man driving a logging truck who was pepper-sprayed then tasered after being chased by police in South Otago this afternoon is now facing nine charges.
Police were first alerted at about 11.40am when a member of the public complained about the driving behaviour of a an unladen logging truck and trailer on State Highway One, near Waihola, 40kms south of Dunedin.
The "extremely aggressive" man became belligerent when pulled over in the township of Milton a short time later, police said.
An officer pepper-sprayed him but it "had no effect".
"The driver got back into his truck and drove off at speed," Senior sergeant Matt Scoles of Dunedin police said.
Driving at alleged speeds of up to 120kmh through the Manuka Gorge and towards Lawrence, he managed to evade police spikes.
Officers gave up the chase when they judged it was becoming too "dangerous" on the rural backroads.
But the truck was sighted again, near Gabriel's Gully.
Officers rushed to the area and found the truck stationary on Munro Rd about 8kms from Lawrence.
"The driver was extremely aggressive towards police when stopped and was eventually apprehended after being subdued by the deployment of Taser," Mr Scoles said.
The 28-year old driver, from Dunedin, was provided with medical assistance from St John at the scene.
He was later charged with a total of nine offences, including two of failing to stop, five for giving false details, obstruction, disorderly behaviour, threatening behaviour, escaping custody, dangerous driving, and assaulting police.
Police staff from Milton, Balclutha and Lawrence were involved in the incident.
An investigation is ongoing.
"It was a really unusual set of circumstances by all accounts. Bizarre," said Senior Sergeant Dave Scott, of the Southern District Command Centre.
Mr Scott said while the pursuit traversed a largely rural area, the chase had to be abandoned when the speeds got "dangerously high".
"He has ended up is in the middle of nowhere, but it was a good result in the end," he said.
Police said how the driver managed to carry on after being pepper-sprayed would be looked at.
"With pepper-spray, firstly you've got to hit the eyes, and a lot of factors can affect that - the skill level of the officer deploying it, wind conditions, whether the guy is wearing sunglasses or a peaked cap, or manages to turn his head, and for some people it just doesn't have the same effect," said Mr Scott.
"Any use of force that we use form part of the investigation."
- by Kurt Bayer
