Drive-by shots at gang pad
A Taranaki teenager has been arrested after allegedly shooting up a New Plymouth gang pad before crashing a stolen car during a police chase.
It appeared the 18-year-old man, who was driving a red Mazda MX5, had taken aim at a Mongrel Mob gang house in Lawry St, Moturoa, about 1pm yesterday before taking off, Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Bouterey said.
‘‘We believe they were the targets of the shooting.
‘‘The occupant of that vehicle, we believe, has fired shots in the direction of a Lawry St address.’’
Police said the vehicle was stolen two days previously.
Shortly after the shooting, the vehicle was spotted in Cowling Rd and a pursuit ensued, at times reaching 80kmh, Sergeant Grant Sawtell said.
The teen, who was known to police, was the sole occupant of the roadster when it slammed backwards into a concrete wall outside a house in Tukapa St, Westown, about 150 metres from Francis Douglas Memorial College.
A nearby resident at the crash scene said they heard sirens and a car driving at high speed moments before hearing a ‘‘big bang’’.
‘‘I looked out the window and saw him jump out of the car like he was going to run off. Then the cops just jumped on him.’’
The man was seen lying motionless and face down on a grass verge after the crash about 1.30pm.
St John paramedics treated the alleged offender, who was arrested at the scene.
Detective Wade Callander said the teen suffered back injuries in the crash.
A member of the public reported seeing a rifle inside the smashed-up car and Callander confirmed a firearm had been recovered from the vehicle.
After being arrested the teen was moved on to a stretcher and taken by ambulance to Taranaki Base Hospital.
He will be facing firearm and driving charges and was expected to appear in the New Plymouth
District Court today. There was a large police presence outside the hospital after the teenager was taken into the emergency department.
Meanwhile, a second man was arrested on a street near the hospital. Police said the arrest was not related to the earlier shooting or pursuit but the man would face charges of assault, disorderly behaviour and obstructing police.
Yesterday afternoon, detectives were in the Moturoa area looking to speak with witnesses to the shooting.
Bouterey encouraged any members of the public who witnessed the shooting or who saw the car between Moturoa and Hurdon, or witnessed the pursuit, to contact New Plymouth police.
Moturoa has been the focal point of heightened gang activity between rival groups Black Power and Mongrel Mob in recent months.
On the afternoon of October 15 police were called to a conflict between members of the gangs at the forecourt of the BP petrol station in Moturoa. While the altercation did not become physical, one person was arrested.
In August, heavily armed police assisted the Taranaki Organised Crime Squad, Tactical Crime Unit and officers from the Wellington Gang Intelligence Centre to raid the Lawry St Mongrel Mob pad in Moturoa.
And in March about 20 patched Mongrel Mob arrived in Taranaki for a birthday. That weekend several were involved in a brawl in central New Plymouth in which victims were kicked and stomped while on the ground.