A police constable was punched and had a tooth broken as four police officers using pepper spray and physical force struggled to subdue a violent man in Northland.
The offender had allegedly been involved in a violent assault on another man.
A Mangawhai man was knocked unconscious when he fell on the footpath after being punched and kicked by a 27-year-old Otangarei man about 4am yesterday.
The man's attacker was held in custody overnight and was expected to appear in Whangarei Court today on charges including aggravated assault, injuring with intent and resisting police.
A police spokesman said the offender was with several others who had set upon the victim in Vine St. When the victim backed away trying to protect his head with his arms, the attacker allegedly continued to deliver heavy blows.
When police arrived, pepper spray failed to subdue the heavily intoxicated man, who resisted arrest and landed several punches, one of which broke a constable's tooth.
Police attended another violent incident at 11.30am yesterday when a 19-year old man allegedly assaulted his partner at their Raumanga home. The man was stopped attempting to drive off and charged with assault with intent to injure, breach of bail conditions and driving while disqualified.
- Lindy Laird of The Northern Advocate
