Police Officer dragged by car at alcohol checkpoint

A member of the Canterbury Police Traffic Alcohol Group was injured last night after being dragged by a car for approximately ten metres at a checkpoint on Buchanans Road, Sockburn says Inspector Al Stewart, Canterbury Road Policing Manager.

"A 22 year old male was processed at the Buchanans Road checkpoint and due to his level of breath alcohol (680) his licence was suspended and his car keys were taken. After being summonsed to appear at court, he has been released and has left the area. A short time later he has returned to the checkpoint and accessed an unmarked police vehicle which he has attempted to drive away.

A senior female constable has tried to stop this person and has been dragged along the road for approximately 10 metres, suffering a laceration to her head and tissue damage to her leg and ankle. She was treated at Christchurch Hospital and later discharged.

The offending driver has abandoned the patrol car a short distance away where it was recovered undamaged. The driver was arrested this morning at his home address in Papanui and will face charges relating to assault, unlawfully taking a car, and various driving charges due to the status of his licence and level of intoxication.

The practices around the security of patrol cars at alcohol checkpoints will be reviewed, and this driver's ability to access a patrol car will form part of that process."

Please contact me if you require any further details.

Al Stewart
Inspector
Road Policing Manager
Canterbury
(027) 2717887