A 21-year-old man handed himself in to police last night following a 24-hour manhunt after a Dunedin police officer was assaulted on Saturday night.
The man presented himself at Dunedin Police Station about 8.15pm, Sergeant Dave Scott said last night.
"We had been looking for him all day and, I guess, that bit of pressure and some advice from family members and he's come in and taken responsibility," he said.
"We're pleased he's done that. It's a good outcome."
The man was arrested and late last night charged with assaulting a police officer.
He is to appear in the Dunedin District Court this morning.
The officer allegedly attacked during a routine traffic stop on Saturday night was released from hospital yesterday morning.
Police said the sole duty officer - who the Otago Daily Times understands is Greg Park (40), of North Dunedin - stopped a car and its four occupants on the corner of North Rd and Allen St, Northeast Valley, shortly before midnight.
As Const Park was talking to the 20-year-old female driver, he was punched from behind in the back of his head, Southern District acting commander Inspector Lane Todd said.
The assailant allegedly continued to strike him as he fell to the ground, before the male passengers from the car intervened in the attack, and the man fled the scene.
Const Park put in an emergency call to police communications, before being taken to Dunedin Hospital by St John ambulance.
After being kept overnight for observation, the constable was released at 9am yesterday.
Insp Todd said the officer suffered facial injuries and was "in good spirits".
He was not due to return to work for another week.
Insp Todd praised the actions of the other occupants of the car.
He said police were becoming concerned about the growing number of attacks on frontline staff, particularly those arising from routine traffic stops.
In December, an officer was bitten on the leg by a 35-year-old woman.
The officer was taken to Dunedin Hospital for treatment and tetanus shots.
During the same weekend, police officers were kicked, bitten and spat at by a couple near Forsyth Barr Stadium.
