Police are investigating a complaint against one of their own, after a Cromwell man said he was "roughed up" while being arrested by an officer in the town last year.
James Duncan McNaughton (51), company director, appeared in the Alexandra District Court yesterday and admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour.
He was convicted, fined $350, and ordered to pay court costs of $130.
McNaughton told Justices of the Peace Daphne Stewart and Rory Gollop he was pepper-sprayed and tightly handcuffed while being arrested at the Golden Gate Lodge in Cromwell on December 19.
"The officer was very aggressive . . . I was roughed up by him," he said.
McNaughton said his wrists were injured when he was "shoved" into a police car while handcuffed, and when in a cell at the Cromwell police station he fell unconscious, hitting his head on a wall.
As a result of being pepper-sprayed he also had ongoing eye problems.
"I believe I've been pretty unfairly treated. At the station the officer asked me if I had put a hole in the cell wall, and I said I did not know what happened because my eyes were still sore from being pepper-sprayed and I had just been unconscious.
"The next day I had a massive bruise on my head, and I'm sure it was from that night," he said.
Central Otago sub area commander Senior Sergeant Jill Woods confirmed yesterday the complaint was being investigated.
Ms Stewart told McNaughton: "The reason police were called is because of your alleged intoxication".
The police summary said McNaughton had been drinking at the Golden Gate Lodge and was asked to leave about 1am, due to his level of intoxication.
He refused to do so, swore at the bar manager, and police were called.
After being escorted from the bar by a police officer, he rushed at the constable and bar staff aggressively.
"A violent confrontation appeared likely and the defendant was pepper-sprayed and arrested," the summary said.
