A biting arrest
Pepper spray was used to subdue a man who resisted arrest by chomping into a police officer’s arm and hand as they tried to put handcuffs on him.
Both bites drew blood with the first bite, which lasted up to 20 seconds, leaving a visible circle of teeth marks on the officer’s bicep.
Police had found Hukupapa Hayes, 21, hiding in a bedroom cupboard in Pa¯ tea on January 1, police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Hickey said in the Ha¯ wera District Court yesterday.
They had gone to the house on another matter and they had been told Hayes was staying there. Hayes’ bail conditions barred him from being in the town so police arrested him.
As a handcuff was clipped onto one of Hayes’ wrists, he tensed his arms to make it difficult for police to apply the second handcuff, then attempted to pull his arm away from the two officers restraining him.
One officer reached across Hayes to grab his free arm and Hayes sunk his teeth into the man’s bicep, biting him through his shirt for 10 to 20 seconds.
The bitten officer pushed with his right thumb at the defendant’s cheek and mouth to release the bite, and Hayes then let go of the arm and started biting the officer’s thumb. Another officer peppersprayed Hayes and the arrest was completed.
The officer was treated at Ha¯ wera Hospital and was put on light duties for several days at work after the incident, Hickey said. Hayes had been barred from entering Pa¯ tea as part of his bail conditions from an incident days earlier.
On December 28, Hayes was at home in Pa¯ tea with his partner of three years, the police summary said. The two argued and it became so heated that the victim walked out of the house and on to the street. Hayes responded by smashing two of the dining chairs on the road and then he punched the victim once in the head. She was checked out by ambulance staff and had sustained no lasting injuries. Hayes told police he had got angry and struck his partner and apologised for his behaviour. He appeared in court yesterday for sentencing. Hayes had previously pleaded guilty to charges of male assaults female, wounding with intent to injure and resisting police. His lawyer Rajan Rai made submissions to the court in writing. Judge Chris Sygrove sentenced Hayes to six months supervision and 120 hours of community work. He also gave Hayes his first strike warning.