Driver jailed for injuring five police in $50,000 rampage

A three-year jail sentence has been imposed on a man whose $50,000 damage spree included injuring five police officers and putting three patrol cars off the road as he tried to escape from police in Napier.

The cost of damage to the vehicles in the October 22 chase last year, which ended when the man was found after fleeing on foot through properties in suburban Marewa, was estimated at about $40,000.

Then he caused about $12,000 worth of damage on the morning of November 23 when he smashed up an interview room in a rage while on remand at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison.

Ranginui Magnum Taueki, 28, appeared before Judge Bridget Mackintosh in Napier District Court on Thursday, having previously admitted four charges of aggravated assault, including using a car as a weapon, plus unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, reckless driving, being an unlicensed driver, and breaching conditions of release. He had also admitted an unrelated burglary.

According to a police summary, in September Taueki, having never held a driving licence and having been prohibited from driving since 2004, was at a camping ground in Whanga¯rei and convinced a camper to lend him a Volvo station wagon so he could attend his father’s funeral.

Never returned and reported stolen, the vehicle was spotted on Napier’s Marine Parade about 11am last Labour Day. Police gave chase as Taueki sped off, reaching 100km/h in 50km/h Nuffield Ave. Another chase started after he again drove off from a driveway.

When eventually stopped he reversed the Volvo into a police car, causing whiplash to one officer and wounding another. He then drove into another police vehicle, causing whiplash and a hand injury to another officer, and injured two more officers in another vehicle.