Police mum over meth link in fatal shooting
A man fatally shot by officers north of Auckland was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time, according to reports.
Jerrim Toms died after 12 bullets were fired by two officers near Pohuehue, north Auckland. His family says four of the bullets hit Toms, one in the back.
Police say the 29-year-old was shot at close range in the March 31 incident, as he approached officers wielding a machete.
Reports yesterday said toxicology testing had confirmed Toms had methamphetamine in his system when he died, and he had an amount of the drug with him at the time.
Police earlier said they believed drugs ‘‘may’’ have been a factor in Toms’ death.
However, a police spokesperson would not confirm the reports.
This week police also revealed they have footage of the moment Toms was fatally shot – but said they’re not in a position to release it.
Detective Inspector John Sutton said this week officers had received footage from the police Eagle helicopter of the shooting, and other CCTV footage of Toms and his car on the day he died.
‘‘This footage is being analysed by three separate inquiries, namely the criminal investigation in relation to the shooting of Jerrim Toms, the Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation and a police Practices, Policies and Procedures review,’’ Sutton said.
Meanwhile, police searching the Waikato River for a missing 36-year-old man recovered a body about 10.30am yesterday.
The 36-year-old man was on the run in Hamilton after he was suspected of assaulting a 26-yearold woman on April 27.
Officers went to a house in Montgomery Crescent, Bader, in search of the man, who fled the property and was tracked by a police dog to the banks of the river near Cobham Bridge.
Officers used the police boat to search the river while the Auckland-based Eagle helicopter searched from overhead.
About an hour later the man was seen in the water. Then he disappeared before officers could reach him.
A formal identification process is underway.