A Dunedin man’s alleged drunk drive came to an end after he got out of his car to try and fight a random pedestrian. 

The manner of the 40-year-old man’s driving attracted multiple calls to police on Monday, Sergeant Matt Lee said. 

Officers eventually tracked him down at 6.40pm parked in Middleton Rd, allegedly to pick a fight with a man standing on the side of the road. 

He continued to “challenge and threaten” the other man as police approached, Sgt Lee said. 

Police deployed pepper spray and began “laser-painting” his chest with a Taser. Laser painting refers to aiming a Taser's built-in targeting sight at a person without actually discharging the device's electrical probes. 

The man was “highly resistant” and was threatening officers throughout their interaction, Sgt Lee said.

Eventually, the man underwent breath testing procedures and recorded a breath alcohol level of 591mcg. The legal limit is 250mcg. 

He was arrested, charged with making threats, threatening to kill, resisting police, disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and driving with a breath alcohol level over 400mcg.

The man was bailed and will appear in Dunedin District Court at a later date. 

laine.priestley@odt.co.nz