Suspect caught after 180km pursuit

A wanted man evaded police for

180 kilometres through Canterbury before officers caught up with him near Ashburton.

Senior Sergeant Phil Dean said police tried pulling over a

32-year-old Nelson man – wanted for violent offending – near Culverden at 12.07pm yesterday.

The chase was abandoned several times before we relocated the vehicle,’’ he said.

The car was spotted again in Parklands, Christchurch, after the driver stole about 20 litres of fuel from a service station. Police pursued the car through the Selwyn district before abandoning the chase again. They received a call about 2.45pm from an Ashburton resident concerned about a man in her area looking for petrol. ‘‘This man matched the description and the vehicle matched the car,’’ Dean said.

The area was cordoned off and the armed offenders squad called in, but the man had already left.

The driver failed to stop again near the intersection of Beach and River roads and another pursuit was initiated through Ashburton. The vehicle came to a stop in Tinwald and the driver was arrested without incident. Dean said no-one was injured. ‘‘This behaviour is reckless, dangerous and the man involved put the lives of innocent members of our community in danger as well as our staff,’’ he said.

Active Explorers Ashburton centre manager Kylie Mactier said the preschool went into lockdown when staff heard sirens outside. Officers arrived about 15 minutes later and told them the situation was under control.