A 36-year-old South Taranaki man who threatened police and had to be pepper-sprayed has been refused bail because of concerns about his mental state.
The man, who has interim name suppression, appeared before Judge Michael Turner in the Alexandra District Court yesterday on six charges relating to an incident in the Cromwell Gorge on April 26: drink driving, refusing to accompany a police officer, resisting police and three charges of threatening to kill.
Members of the public had phoned in several complaints about the man’s driving and his car then collided with another vehicle.
When police arrived the man appeared to be intoxicated and told police he was a Head Hunter from Auckland and was going to "take police out" and shoot them, police prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Cheyne said.
When asked why he was driving to Cromwell, the man said he was going to get a gun and go back to Alexandra to shoot his neighbour.
He was arrested but refused to comply with police and was pepper-sprayed and found to have a breath-alcohol reading of 911mcg.
The man’s counsel, Justine Baird, said an initial psychiatric assessment indicated the man had complex mental health issues. He was articulate when sober but prone to psychotic episodes after drinking alcohol.
Judge Turner said police opposed bail as there was an increased risk of his offending if he was allowed bail.
The man’s criminal history also included an episode in New Plymouth last year when he had been in an agitated state, greeted police with a high-powered air rifle and axe and threatened to kill someone.
Judge Turner said more psychiatric assessments needed to be done to assess the man’s mental state at the time of the Cromwell offending and if he was fit to stand for trial.
He remanded the man in custody for 14 days to allow a report to be prepared.
