13 February 2009
It certainly is a 'Black Friday' for one dangerous prison escaper who ran out of luck on Hamilton's main street early this morning.
Arai Whaakari HEMA had been on the run since fleeing Auckland's Paremoremo Prison last month.
An extremely violent offender HEMA had been the subject of intense Police attention since he fled from a prison work party on 21 January.
Hamilton City Area Commander, Inspector Rob Lindsay, said HEMA'S luck ran out on Victoria St about 12.25am when a city Police officer saw a suspicious man walking north at the intersection with Victoria St.
Dressed up for a night on the town HEMA claimed to be someone else but one of the officers recognised his true identity and he was arrested and taken back to the Hamilton Central Police Station.
"At this stage I'd just like to take the opportunity to commend the staff members involved in removing a man that posed such a risk to members of the public off our streets," said Mr Lindsay.
End