Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Inspector Andrea McBeth, Hamilton City Area Commander:
One man has been arrested for stealing a phone off a passerby, cash from one restaurant and attempting to steal cash from another restaurant in central Hamilton yesterday evening.
At about 9.30pm last night Police were made aware of a man who had stolen a mobile phone from a member of the public walking near Alma Street.
The same man had been seen earlier in the evening, stealing cash from the till at a Victoria Street restaurant and attempting to steal cash from an Alma Street restaurant before staff members intervened.
The man ran towards the river path with the stolen phone and Police moved swiftly to locate him outside a nearby Mexican restaurant.
While police were placing him under arrest he smashed a glass storefront window of a business premises. The offender then threw shards of glass at a dog handler and Police dog, causing the handler to receive cuts to his hand, and the dog to suffer cuts to his paws.
The offender also received large gashes to his own arm while in the process of breaking the window, and a dog bite after the Police dog was deployed to aid in his arrest.
During this apprehension, another man has intervened, who was then arrested and charged with obstruction.
This was a cowardly assault on our staff and dog, and the violent behaviour exhibited last night is not acceptable.
This arrest serves as a clear message to anyone who steals from retailers or the public and assaults Police executing their duty. We do not condone this offending and if people choose to engage in this behaviour they can expect to be held to account.
We continue to ask our retailers to report any offending – reporting offences is the first step to help Police locate these individuals and put them before the court.
The dog handler and dog are receiving support and both are expected to make a full recovery.
The offender was taken to hospital by ambulance for medical attention.
A 35-year-old man has been charged with aggravated assault, assaulting Police, burglary and receiving property.
A 50-year-old local man has been charged with assaulting and obstructing Police and injuring a Police dog.
Both appeared in the Hamilton District Court today and the 35-year-old has been remanded in custody to appear at a later date.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
