Force used in arrest ‘justified’

The independent police watchdog has found Taranaki officers were justified in using a range of tactics, including pepper spray and Tasers, to arrest a man who had been on the run for months.

The man, referred to in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s (IPCA) report as Mr X, was arrested on May 21, 2020, at a house in Inglewood.

He was regarded by police as one of its top five priority violent offenders and was wanted for recall to prison. Police had been searching for the man for eight months and he had fled from them several times during that period.

Following his arrest, Mr X complained to the authority about the level of force used during his capture. He claimed he was kicked in the head four times while on the ground with officers holding on to him.

Around 4pm on the day he was apprehended, seven officers surrounded the Inglewood property.

Mr X saw police, fled out of a side window and tried to get to a car parked in the driveway.

As he then moved toward one officer aggressively, the officer fired his Taser at him twice.

The man ripped out the Taser probes and tried to open the car door and then fell on to his back.

Officers tried to control Mr X as he kicked out and resisted violently.

The man was tasered a third time, pepper sprayed and physically restrained by four officers before he was brought under control and transported to the police station.

The IPCA found that the use of “significant force” was justified to prevent Mr X from escaping custody.

“He is powerful and muscular and fought against police for approximately three minutes before being restrained,” the authority’s report stated.

“He was wanted for serious offences and had successfully evaded police several times already, placing the public and police at risk during these attempts. He posed an ongoing risk while he remained at large.”