8 Apr 2024

Man fleeing police found hiding under blanket in different car

12:29 pm on 8 April 2024
A police car

Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A disqualified driver who sped away from Dunedin police was later found hiding under a large mink blanket in the back seat of someone else's car.

Police said they saw the vehicle travelling down Taieri Road shortly after 12am on Saturday and suspected the driver was a man they were seeking.

When he took off, police did not follow him, instead putting up cordons and using a police dog team once his vehicle was found.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said it was not long before another vehicle was stopped at the cordon with the female driver telling police she was just out for a drive.

"It was obvious to police staff that there was someone hiding under the blanket … and as a result we looked," Bond said.

The 42-year-old man was arrested and charged with driving while disqualified.

When his vehicle was impounded and checked, Bond said police found a bag with his identification, cannabis and methamphetamine in it.

The man was then charged with possession of methamphetamine and utensils, possession of a cannabis plant for supply and two counts of failing to give police his phone passcode.

He would appear in Dunedin District Court on Monday.