Child allegedly used as pepper spray shield

A Helensville man has been charged with using a young child as a shield while he was being pepper-sprayed by police.

Shannon Ross Tana appeared in the Waitakere District Court this week charged with engaging in conduct that endangered the safety of a child in his care.

The charge said the conduct alleged was "using the child as a shield against police" and the endangerment was "subjecting (the child) to the effects of Oleoresin Capsicum spray".

The charge said Tana's alleged behaviour was "a major departure from the standard of care to be expected of a reasonable person".

Detective Sergeant Steve Salton said the child, under the age of five, was not hurt in the incident.

It was a "bit of a strange one" and the first time he personally had come across someone using a child as a shield.

Salton said a second charge of arson was also laid against Tana.

He declined to comment further as the case is before the courts.

Tana is due to re-appear on October 23.

- © Fairfax NZ News