Peppersprayed after alleged threat

A 36YEAROLD South Taranaki man was peppersprayed by police near Cromwell on Wednesday after allegedly threatening officers during a drinkdrive stop.

Granted interim name suppression by Judge John Strettel when he appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday, the man was remanded in custody until his next scheduled appearance, in the Alexandra District Court, on May 25.

He faces three charges of threatening grievous bodily harm — two of them relating to police officers — as well as charges of resisting a constable, refusing to accompany an officer and drinkdriving (911mcg).

Sergeant Mark Gill, of Queenstown, said the man was arrested at the scene of a minor crash about 2.30pm.

Police used pepper spray on the defendant while trying to process him for drinkdriving.

Officers also presented a Taser, but it was not fired, Sgt Gill said.