Officer forced to defend himself

For the second consecutive weekend, an Oamaru police officer was confronted by and forced to defend himself from passengers of a car pulled over for the driver to undertake a drink-driving test.

Sergeant Wayne Brew pulled the vehicle over about 1.45am on Saturday, in Farnham St.

After refusing to undertake a breath-alcohol test, the 17-year-old driver was asked to remove the keys from the ignition, Sgt Brew said.

However, she became agitated and two passengers got out of the car and approached him.

One backed off when warned, but the other allegedly continued towards him.

Sgt Brew pushed him back and the woman driver ran off.

She was caught some distance away and charged with resisting arrest and driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 533mcg.

The incident was similar to one which drew national attention the previous weekend when a 32-year-old Oamaru constable was assaulted, receiving facial, elbow and knee injuries after he was knocked to the ground by the occupants of a car when its 20-year-old driver allegedly failed a breath-alcohol test.

Sgt Brew was not assaulted but admitted thoughts of the previous weekend's events crossed his mind.

"The thought did occur to me that this is going to develop into something."

A 19-year-old man has been charged with obstructing police.

Five people were arrested after police executed search warrants during the weekend in relation to five burglaries in Oamaru during the past two weeks.

The Latitude 45 Cafe was burgled three times, a medical centre and the Union Cricket Club pavilion at King George Park once each.

A 17-year-old male was arrested in relation to the burglaries.

Four other teenagers were arrested on charges including possessing stolen property, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, unlawfully taking a vehicle and charges relating to the burglaries.

While executing a search warrant on one of the properties in relation to the burglaries, police smelt cannabis.

They allegedly found a small cannabis growing operation and a large amount of cannabis.

As a result, a man and a woman in their late 20s were arrested for drug offences, including possession for supply, cultivating cannabis for supply, supplying cannabis and possessing utensils to use cannabis.

Police checking to ensure a 14-year-old, arrested in relation to possessing stolen property from the medical centre and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, was meeting her bail conditions arrested her parents and charged them with obstruction.