Driver allegedly bashes cop
A driver attempting to escape the clutches of the police repeatedly struck one of his pursuers in the face so hard that he allegedly punched out seven of the officer’s teeth.
Boycie Hapeta, 18, of Hamurana, near Rotorua, appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday, charged with injuring with intent to injure, dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence, and driving with excess breath alcohol.
Hapeta had been forbidden from driving at an appearance in the Rotorua District Court in November. However, he was seen on Saturday by a police patrol in Rotorua behind the wheel of his car, in a direct contravention of that sentence.
Rather than pull over, he took off – but his evasion of the authorities was only temporary.
About 9.30pm that night a police officer in Hamilton spotted and identified
Hapeta’s car parked on Norton Rd.
The officer set about impounding the vehicle – but was temporarily distracted by an unrelated disorder incident that was happening nearby.
It was then that Hapeta went back to the car and allegedly attempted to drive off.
The policeman, however, saw him and told him to get out of the car.
As the officer opened the passenger door and attempted to grab Hapeta, the teenager allegedly reversed and rammed into the patrol car, before driving off with the police officer hanging out of the vehicle.
To avoid being hit or pinned against a nearby power box by the car, the officer made a split-second decision to get fully inside the vehicle before it left the scene.
The officer tried to stop the alleged getaway by pulling on the handbrake and spraying Hapeta with pepper spray and a taser, but it was to no avail.
During this time, the officer was allegedly punched repeatedly in the face by Hapeta so hard that seven teeth were lost.
But Hapeta carried on driving at speed for about 1.6km, allegedly swerving into the path of oncoming traffic, before crashing on Lincoln St and running off.
He was tracked by a police dog unit and the Eagle helicopter and was taken into custody after being found hiding up a tree.
He allegedly returned a reading of 370 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. A probe from the taser was still in the pocket of his pants and he also had dye from the pepper spray on him. Hapeta – who is yet to enter a plea to the charges – applied for bail through his counsel Rob Quin.
Although the details of the hearing cannot be reported, Quin was successful, and Hapeta was remanded on bail to an address in Rotorua. He will next appear in court in Hamilton on May 6.
The name of the police officer involved was suppressed.
In a statement yesterday, prior to Hapeta’s court appearance, Waikato District Commander Superintendent Bruce Bird said the officer was recovering at home and was grateful for the support and messages received from colleagues and concerned members of the community.
The police also wanted to thank members of the public who came to the man’s aid.
The conditions of Hapeta’s bail include requirements not to come to Hamilton, not to consume alcohol, not to drive a motor vehicle, and not to threaten or be violent to any person.