Police say tasers had to be used on a man who died in custody three days after his arrest for the safety of the officers involved.
Police have named the man as Alo Ngata, a 29-year-old from Tonga.
The investigation into his death and the circumstances surrounding the assault of the 76-year-old man are continuing after two officers were forced to use their tasers during the incident in Auckland.
Superintendent Karyn Malthus, Auckland City District Commander, said today that police were responding to reports of a man attacking an elderly man on Beresford St in Freemans Bay about 1pm on Sunday.
From the Eagle helicopter it was observed that Ngata kicked the elderly man in the head five or six times, essentially until he was unconscious, she said.
He then advanced on police in a threatening manner, she said.
The first two uses of the taser were ineffective, the second two were effective, she said.
"He continued to resist police attempts to restrain him, to cuff him. It took four police officers to restrain him."
If they had not used the tasers the two police officers could have been seriously injured if not killed, she said.
"I have no doubt that if our officers had not intervened with the necessary tactical options they would have incurred serious injury themselves. It would be fair to say that they are traumatised."
During it all the 76-year-old victim was unconscious on the roadway. He received medical attention and was taken to hospital, where he is reported to be doing well.
Police say Ngata was transported to the Auckland Police Custody Unit in an agitated state and that he continued to resist police efforts.
Malthus said police members realised he was in medical distress, commenced CPR immediately and called an ambulance.
"Sadly and tragically, three days later he died."
This was a "significantly violent and volatile" incident, Malthus said.
"Not only for the 76-year-old victim, but for police. None of our police officers want to come to work and have to deal with this and have their shift end with the loss of a life. Any loss of life is tragic."
Police were called to the man's address the day before the incident and are reviewing that as well as part of the investigation, Malthus said.
Police had spoken with Ngata's family "to better understand what happened".
Eyewitness details
An eyewitness previously told The New Zealand Herald that Ngata was acting like a "wild animal" before he was tasered multiple times by police.
"He was out of control," the witness said. "He was resisting arrest and he came at the cops as well, he was told to bloody get on the ground and he didn't, so they tasered him."
