An 18-year-old Rotorua man faces attempted murder charges after a 15-year-old Tokoroa boy was chased and run over with a four-wheel-drive on Saturday.
Tokoroa police arrested the man last night in rural Rotorua and seized an Isuzu MU vehicle they believe was used to run the boy over, Tokoroa Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry said.
The teenager is in Waikato Hospital with head and chest injuries after the driver of a four-wheel-drive allegedly chased him for several blocks, finally running him over in Baberton St about 3.30am on Saturday.
Police had earlier said the incident happened as part of a gang initiation, with clothing and mannerisms indicated they were associated with the Mongrel Mob.
"They are wannabes of this gang and they are just using that to intimidate members of the public," Mr Verry told 3News yesterday.
The injured youth and his two friends had no links to any gang and they just happened to be "in the wrong place at the wrong time".
The teenager remains in a critical condition at Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit.
