At 10.50 am Monday 24th August 2015 a stolen Nissan Cefiro was seen travelling north on Fitzgerald Avenue and two police units signalled the driver to stop. The driver of the stolen vehicle instead rammed the marked patrol car before fleeing, a plain police vehicle then pursued the stolen Cefiro until the pursuit was abandoned due to its speed on Innes Road.
As the pursuit was on Briggs Road another marked patrol car saw a white Toyota Corolla that appeared to be following the plain patrol car engaged in the pursuit. When the marked patrol car signalled the Corolla to pull over and stop from following the pursuit, the driver of the Corolla failed to do so, instead maintaining the speed of pursuit.
At the intersection of Innes Road and Briggs Road the Corolla drove over a traffic island crashing into a member of the public parked at this intersection. At this point it was discovered that this was another stolen vehicle as the driver ran off. He was tracked by a police dog handler and was located by members of the public who found him hiding in ditch. He is a male 22 years old.
The car originally pursued was found parked on Springfield Road. Following the description of the driver being dispersed police located and arrested another male aged 20yrs nearby.
All vehicles that crashed suffered minor to moderate damage, the member of public involved in the crash was treated at the scene for shock.
Sergeant Simon Sinclair thanks the members of the public that assisted in the capture of these men.
Both men will be appearing on unlawful taking and driving offences charges and will be appearing at court tomorrow.
For further comment contact Sergeant Simon Sinclair at the Papanui police 3741700