New charges for alleged hit-run reality star

Police have filed six new charges against an ex-reality TV star who was arrested earlier this month following an alleged pursuit in which an officer on foot was hit while deploying spikes, resulting in serious injuries.

The 37-year-old defendant, who continues to have interim name suppression, appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday for the first time via an audio-video feed.

He was arrested on the evening of November 9, after a pursuit that began after police spotted what they thought to be a stolen car. The vehicle is alleged to have hit an officer who was on foot about 30 minutes later as the officer attempted to stop the car by deploying road spikes.

The injured officer remains in hospital but is stable and recovering, a police spokesperson yesterday told the Herald.

Traffic chaos ensued immediately after the officer’s injuries as a large police response that included the Eagle helicopter followed. The pursuit lasted about 21km as the vehicle made its way north to the city centre, with the vehicle being found under Grafton Rd near Auckland Domain.

Police said the suspect was located on nearby Khyber Pass Rd.

At Manukau District Court the following day, the case was called but the defendant did not appear because he, too, was in hospital. Interim name suppression was granted until his next appearance so that he could tell his family about the charges.

The court was also told he suffered from drug and alcohol issues.

During yesterday’s court appearance, the man pleaded not guilty through defence lawyer Amy Jordan to the three charges he was already facing — wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawfully taking a vehicle and failing to stop and ascertain injury — in addition to the six new charges, all relating to the same alleged incident.

The new charges include allegations of unlawfully being in a city centre parking garage with intent to commit an offence, failure to stop for red and blue flashing lights while exceeding the speed limit, burglary and wilful damage of a Khyber Pass Rd business, possession of five syringes for methamphetamine use, and reckless driving, which police said involved driving on the wrong side of State Highway 1.