Fleeing driver denied bail

A fleeing driver who allegedly tried to run down a police officer in a bid for freedom has been denied bail.

On Saturday police in Taranaki used road spikes in an attempt to stop a vehicle being driven by wanted man Dillan Mclellan.

The 20-year-old had a warrant out for his arrest and was spotted by police driving a van on Wiremu Rd, near Opunake, about 5.45pm, acting Sergeant Gerhard Jacobs said. Just minutes later he was spotted driving towards Oakura on State Highway 45.

The same vehicle had been pursued by police on Friday but the chase was abandoned due to the dangerous manner of driving.

On Saturday about 6pm police deployed road spikes along SH45 near Tataraimaka in a bid to stop McIellan.

While the spikes blew out three of the van’s tyres Mclellan failed to stop and, sparks flying from the rims of his tyres, the pursuit continued through Oakura toward New Plymouth.

Just south of Omata on SH45 police attempted to use spikes for a second time. It is here that Mclellan allegedly turned his attention to a police officer who he intentionally tried to run over with the van, Jacobs said.

The officer had to dive for cover.

The driver and a passenger attempted to flee on foot through a field near the intersection of Hurford Rd and SH45, but were chased down and arrested.

The passenger was later released without charge but Mclellan, who had active warrants for his arrest and had been on the run for several months, was charged with two counts of reckless driving, two of failing to stop and one of aggravated assault.

At the time of his arrest he was also in possession of methamphetamine and a pipe to smoke the drug and was charged in relation to these.

Mclellan appeared before Judge Lynne Harrison at the New Plymouth District Court on Tuesday.

Through his lawyer, Turitea Bolstad, he applied for bail, which police prosecutor Detective Sergeant Dave McKenzie opposed.

Harrison said Mclellan was a danger to the public with a history of non-compliance.

Harrison remanded him in custody to reappear on April 5.