Motelier complains of ‘police brutality’

A 71-YEAR-OLD motel owner has lodged a complaint with police after claiming he was assaulted by a constable who drew blood when he handcuffed him, put him in an armlock and marched him across State Highway 1.

John Wray, a former property manager for the Royal New Zealand Police College and now owner of the Cottage Park Motel in Otaki, has complained to the Independent Police Conduct Authority after the incident on Saturday.

He said he was handcuffed so tightly it drew blood, was held in a painful armlock, and that the officer told him his intention was to inflict pain to teach him a lesson. He claims the officer threatened to drop him on the ground and pepper spray him.

Wray has a health condition and is on medication.

‘‘He absolutely lost it, it was sadistic. This is police brutality, they cannot treat people like this,’’ he said.

Otaki police said he was arrested only after giving the officer an ultimatum to either leave his property or arrest him.

‘‘To ensure the safety of all parties, he was arrested for possessing and using an offensive weapon in a threatening man- ner, handcuffed as per normal policy and escorted to a police vehicle,’’ Sergeant Slade Sturmey said.

The incident started when a neighbour came to the motel on SH1 and complained about loud music from one of Wray’s neighbouring rental properties about 1.30pm.

The tenant had a large dog, which Wray said had bitten him last year, prompting him to carry a hammer in case of another attack.

‘‘We exchanged words with the tenant, which became heated when he saw the hammer. He apologised for the loud music,’’ Wray said.

About an hour later, a constable arrived at Wray’s front door while he was using a screwdriver to put up a key holder.

‘‘He asked for my version of events, which I freely answered. He went on to talk about me having offensive weapons, including the three-inch screwdriver I was using when he arrived.

‘‘I had the impression he was trying to wind me up. I decided to terminate the interview and turned around and went to my home,’’ he said.

The constable followed him, ‘‘grabbed me from behind, applied handcuffs and told me I was under arrest’’.

‘‘He deliberately applied

the handcuffs very tightly, saying he would teach me a lesson and to have some respect.

‘‘I told him the handcuffs were too tight and inflicting pain, that I was a senior citizen. He proceeded to place me in an uncomfortable armlock and marched me to his car on the other side of the busy highway. He also threatened to pepper spray me.’’

One of Wray’s staff witnessed the incident, saying he saw Wray being ‘‘manhandled’’, blood coming from one of his arms and Wray struggling to walk as he was marched towards the highway.

After a backup police car arrived, the officer eventually released Wray and told him he would issue a trespass notice.

Sturmey said police were called by the neighbour, concerned that Wray was using the hammer in a threatening way.

‘‘Wray was co-operative initially but, when challenged about using the hammer in a threatening way, gave police an ultimatum to get off [his] property or arrest him.’’ After the arrest, ‘‘Wray stopped his behaviour immediately and began co-operating with police again’’.

‘‘Wray’s behaviour dropped to a level considered safe so he was released without charge and warned for the hammer incident.’’