An Oamaru police officer has been stood down after a woman allegedly coughed on them.
The incident happened shortly after 6.30pm on Saturday, when the vehicle a 20-year-old was a passenger in was stopped by police in the central section of Oamaru.
She had previously been warned on several occasions for breaching Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and as a result, was taken into custody.
However, while the woman was being processed at the Oamaru station, Sergeant Blair Wilkinson, of Oamaru said, she "deliberately coughed on the arresting officer".
In line with Covid-19 precautions, the officer involved had been stood down for at least two days but was expected back at work this week.
The woman was charged with obstructing a medical officer and assaults police, and will appear in court at a later date.
Sgt Wilkinson said the incident was frustrating for police as the officer could not work until they had been tested and cleared. Taking an officer off the job for at least two days was putting a strain on police resources.
