Escapees not wearing handcuffs
Two police officers were handling the four offenders who worked together to escape from custody in Levin.
Manawatu¯ police area commander Inspector Sarah Stewart admitted it was not ‘‘best practice’’ when speaking about the manhunt for the three escapees at Levin police station yesterday. Stewart also said it was believed none of the offenders were wearing handcuffs at the time.
Wiremu Eparaima, 30, Te Wera Hemara, 27, and Emmanuel Witana, 23, are being sought after escaping custody at Levin District Court about 5.40pm on Wednesday.
Another offender, Mikaera Feather, 28, allegedly overpowered one of the police officers. He faced charges of assisting escape and aggravated assault at the Levin District Court yesterday.
Stewart said one of the offenders pressed an emergency lever to lift a garage door, allowing three to escape.
One of the officers managed to restrain one of the four, while the other gave chase after those who fled, but was unable to catch them.
The two officers were distressed and upset about the escape, which did not appear planned, Stewart said.
The fugitives then ran to a nearby supermarket and got into a man’s car, making him drive them to northwest Levin.
The man was not believed to be known to the trio.
Police were conducting a ‘‘significant inquiry’’ to find the missing men, who have links in the Horowhenua area and gang affiliations. People who know the men are asked not to contact or assist them.
‘‘We have no information that there is a specific threat to the public,’’ Stewart said.
One of the three men, Hemara, has charges dating back a year. The first is in relation to dangerous driving through nearby town Shannon to dodge police in September 2018. He was charged with theft of a car in November and was then charged over another a police pursuit.
Eparaima faces two charges for driving while unlicensed in August, one for failing to stop in a police pursuit, and for theft of a car trailer and cash in April.
Witana was charged with breaching a protection order and was due to appear on an assault charge at Palmerston North District Court yesterday.
It is not the first time Eparaima has been involved in an escape attempt. In 2007, he scaled a 4-metre high mesh fence at Manawatu Prison with a fellow prisoner, but a guard raised the alarm.
Hemara is understood to be the younger brother of Chea Paratene Charles Brattlehemara Haeana, who goes by the last name Hemara, one of two men accused of murdering Horowhenua gang member Palmiro Macdonald.
A jury was unable to reach a verdict in his trial in the High Court in Palmerston North last month. A retrial is expected.
Police urged Levin locals not to approach the men and call 111 immediately if they saw them.