An independent Police Conduct Authority review is unlikely after police say a 19-year-old Arrowtown man injured himself running into a cell wall as he was taken into custody by police in Queenstown on Friday night.
Otago police district operations manager Inspector Lane Todd said the matter was under internal review but was "not as serious as initially reported".
He said the man suffered cuts to his forehead after charging the cell wall while handcuffed.
"On the face of it, it doesn't appear to be at the higher level ... on the information we have, we won't be reporting it to the Independent Police Conduct Authority," he said.
The man is charged with not paying a taxi fare, threatening behaviour and resisting arrest at Cameron Pl, Fernhill, about 11pm on Friday night.
