A Dunedin man assaulted by a man early yesterday had his wallet stolen by a woman pretending to come to his aid, police said.
Dunedin Police Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said the 26-year-old Dunedin man was walking through the McDonald's car park in Great King St with his girlfriend at 2.20am when he was assaulted by a Maori male.
When his girlfriend intervened, the attacker fled.
Moments later, a Maori woman approached to see if the victim was all right.
It is alleged the woman stole his wallet and ran off through the McDonald's restaurant towards George St, Snr Sgt Benn said.
"It's a despicable thing to do. The good Samaritan was actually a scorpion with a sting in her tail."
The man was taken to Dunedin Hospital for treatment.
Police are still searching for the offenders.
The male was about 20 years old, 173cm tall, of skinny build, with short spiky hair and wearing a red T-shirt.
The woman was also about 20 years old, of thin build and had long brown hair in a ponytail.
She was with a group of about six other females.
Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident.
• The Dunedin Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Independent Police Complaints Authority are investigating an incident in which a 32-year-old man slit his own throat during a bail check at the weekend.
Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, said the man was on bail awaiting court proceedings on July 28 for damage and assault charges.
He was discovered at a house on Maclaggan St, where he was not permitted to be, during regular police bail checks on Saturday.
Police officers asked the man to come out of the house.
When he refused, a warrant was sought to remove him.
"We were in the process of getting a warrant to go into the house and get him.
I think he knew we were going to arrest him for breach of bail," Snr Sgt Benn said"He came to the door with a butcher's knife and cut his own throat several times before opening the door for police.
He got pepper-sprayed for his troubles also, because he was still holding the knife."
It was estimated the man lost about a litre of blood and was taken to Dunedin Hospital about 8pm for surgery.
He was in a stable condition yesterday and recovering in a general ward.
Snr Sgt Benn said the incident was "disturbing" and had been referred by to the Dunedin CIB and the Independent Police Complaints Authority, to make sure there was "no wrongdoing" in the police handling of the situation.
The house on Maclaggan St was cordoned off while the scene was investigated.
The man will be charged with breach of bail conditions.
Police are searching for a Pacific Island man after he attacked a member of a stag party with a bottle in the Octagon, Dunedin.
Snr Sgt Benn said the victim was having an argument with a female outside the Air New Zealand building in the Octagon about 2am on Sunday when a taxi pulled up.
Three Pacific Island men got out and one of them hit the victim with a bottle.
He received two large gashes to his head and was taken to Dunedin Hospital for treatment.
Police are looking for a well-groomed Pacific Island man, 193cm tall, of solid build, clean shaven and wearing a blue T-shirt with yellow writing.
Snr Sgt Benn called for anyone with information to contact police.
• A 36-year-old Dunedin man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer and intentionally damaging a Leith St residence on Saturday morning.
Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, said the man met occupants of a Leith St flat at a Dunedin bar on Friday night.
They returned to the flat and continued drinking until Saturday morning.
The man and residents began arguing, and police were called just after 11am.
When police arrived, the man, dressed only in his underwear and socks, was in an agitated state and allegedly tried to kick and spit at the arresting police officer, Snr Sgt Benn said.
The man had allegedly kicked a glass door at the house during the altercation, cutting his foot.
He refused treatment by ambulance staff after being arrested, Snr Sgt Benn said.
The man will appear in the Dunedin District Court on Friday.
