18 May 2018

Man appears in court in relation to police car ramming

6:52 am on 18 May 2018

A man from South Auckland will appear in court in Rotorua today in relation to the ramming of a police car in Taupo.

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Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Around midnight on Wednesday officers spotted an SUV which had been reported stolen.

As one of them approached, the vehicle drove onto the footpath and began doing doughnuts before approaching the police car at speed and deliberately ramming it.

As the officers drove away they were pursued by the stolen car.

Another police car chased the stolen vehicle, but lost sight of it and it was later found down an embankment at Wharewaka.

A 40-year-old man is facing several charges including assault with a weapon and reckless driving.