Domestic violence probe ends in chaos

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A man fleeing a domestic violence incident smashed his car into an ambulance where his alleged victim was being treated, then repeatedly rammed a police car before allegedly threatening officers with a baseball bat.

Christchurch emergency services were called to a Hills Rd, Mairehau, address about 9pm on Saturday to attend a domestic violence incident.

The victim was being treated in the back of an ambulance, which was hit as the alleged offender backed out of a driveway at speed.

Volunteer ambulance officers were thrown about by the force of the impact, but escaped injury.

Sergeant Dean Harker, of the Papanui police, said that as police pursued the vehicle along Lower Styx Rd and Marshland Rd, its driver tried several times to ram the police car.

"He then stopped in the middle of the road and drove at about 60kmh backwards towards the police car, hitting it a number of times and then carried on driving," Harker said.

The man stopped again further up the road, and this time his car became "stuck" to the police car as he rammed it, and his vehicle was forced off the road.

After a chase on foot, the man allegedly produced a baseball bat and threatened to kill the officers.

He was eventually subdued with pepper spray.

Harker said the potential harm to police and the public was huge, particularly in relation to the "very erratic" driving. St John district operations manager Tony Dowell said he had not heard of an ambulance being struck in 30 years.

His volunteer officers were "very distressed" and were sent home after counselling. The ambulance could not be driven.

He did not yet know whether the ambulance could be repaired.

Hills Rd resident Avril Thresh said Saturday night's events had left her with a hole in her fence.

She and her husband had called police because of people throwing eggs at their property, but were told an officer was already on the way to an alleged assault.

They had also heard yelling and swearing, but did not see the ambulance get hit as they were trying to keep their children, aged 4 and 6, away from windows.

Police ask that anyone who saw the pursuit or ramming of the police car, or the baseball-bat incident call Constable Tyron Wall, of the New Brighton police, on (03) 373 9100.

A 23-year-old man will appear in the Christchurch District Court today facing 16 charges, including assault and threatening to kill.

- © Fairfax NZ News