Police bullets blast shooter
Officer’s dog injured during shootout in Northland paddock
Aman wanted by police was being chased through a paddock when he opened fire on a police dog before he was shot three times by officers. It was the fourth time Northland police had been shot at within months.
The man shot yesterday was taken by helicopter to Auckland City Hospital. Last night he was in a stable condition.
He was seen just after 9am near Tangowahine, between Dargaville and Whangarei on the northern Kaipara Harbour. An off-duty police officer also spotted him about the same time and phoned colleagues, Superintendent Tony Hill said.
The officer recognised the man as being wanted on firearms and cannabis charges, Hill said.
Two police cars rushed to the scene as the man fled into a paddock.
“Police staff chased the man, who then turned around and presented a high-calibre firearm and began shooting at the police dog, in the direction of the police officer,” Hill said.
“The officer returned fire and subsequently the offender was shot three times.”
Police gave the man first aid and called in medical teams.
The man was then airlifted to hospital. The dog was wounded and taken in another helicopter for specialist veterinary treatment at Unitec in Mt Albert. Police hoped the animal would fully recover.
“Our police dogs are a highly valued part of our police wha¯nau and regularly put their lives on the line to protect our community,” Hill said.
The dog handler and his animal had initially responded to the incident because they were nearby.
Police believed the dog was shot at least once. Medical tests would confirm how many times it was hit.
Hill said the offender was known to police and wanted on firearms and drugs charges.
The officers who shot him would be supported by fellow staff and be involved in an investigation into the incident — as was normal after shootings.
“This was a frightening incident and police are providing all available support to the officer involved, as well as the other police officers present at the scene.”
Hill would not reveal details about the injuries or where the suspect was shot.
Police were also working with and providing support to the family of the man who was shot, Hill said.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority had been notified.
Police had located the “highcalibre” firearm at the scene.
Across Northland, it was the fourth incident in which police had been shot at in recent months. These included incidents in which a dog handler’s van had been shot at and another incident after a traffic stop.
Hill described the latest incident as “very dynamic and fluid”.
“Our staff must make quick decisions to ensure not only the safety of the wider community, but also their own safety.
“They deserve to go home at the end of the day to their families.”