Wanted man still on run after fatal police chase
One of New Zealand’s most wanted men, Lewis Popata, who is understood to have sparked a Nelson police chase that ended in a triple fatality, is being hunted on firearm and meth charges.
The Press understands Popata was an associate of Phillip Stretch, 33, who died when a car he was a passenger in crashed while fleeing police on State Highway 6 at Hope, south of Nelson, about 5.40am on March 11.
The car’s driver, Johnathan Tairakena, and innocent motorist Carmen Marie Yanko, 53, also died in the crash.
Nelson police have had a warrant to arrest Popata for some time on charges that include unlawful possession of firearms and possession of meth utensils. The Press understands police were hunting for him when they attempted to stop Tairakena and Stretch prompting a police chase.
Police posted a photo of Popata on Facebook on March 20, which said he had a warrant for his arrest after failing to appear in court.
The 29-year-old featured on Police Ten 7 on Wednesday.
He’s described as being 194cm, of medium-solid build, with a tribal design on his right forearm and left upper arm. He’s also known as Lewis Sutherland. The police’s website says he is believed to be in the Nelson or Blenheim areas
Tasman district commander Superintendent Mike Johnson earlier said the chase with Tairakena and Stretch began after police tried to stop a vehicle while looking for a wanted person on Gladstone Rd in Richmond.
Stuff has learned that man was Popata – and that Popata is one of police’s most sought-after suspects.
Both Tairakena and Stretch were well-known criminals and disqualified from driving.
After the March 11 pursuit started, the vehicle kept going, overtook a truck, moved onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a vehicle travelling north, Johnson said at the time. ‘‘Tragically three people have died as a result, two of the deceased were from the fleeing vehicle and the third person was an innocent member of the public,’’ he said.
Police pursued the car for about 6 kilometres and were still chasing the fleeing driver when they crashed head-on with Yanko’s vehicle. The Independent Police Conduct Authority was notified and the incident would be investigated internally.