Two men have been arrested and charged after police pursed a stolen car that was travelling up to 150kph, for more than an hour.
The pursuit began around 8am this morning (Friday, May 22) when Detective Greg Hogan from Feilding attempted to stop silver Nissan at the junction of North Street and Makino Road, that he suspected was stolen.
The driver made off initially to Waituna West and then continued along remote rural roads towards Rangiwahia. Police laid road spikes in the area but before reaching the spikes the car spun around and headed back towards Vinegar Hill. A second attempt at road spikes took out two of the tyres and a third attempt flattened the remaining tyres.
Although the car was now on rims, it carried on eventually turning into the Vinegar Hill Reserve and on to the riverbed where the driver decamped.
A 19-year-old man from Pohangina Valley was arrested nearby. A 20-year-old man from Cheltenham was apprehended a short time later by a police dog in nearby bush.
The 20-year-old has been charged with failing to stop, driving whilst disqualified, theft of a motor vehicle and dangerous driving and will appear before Feilding District Court today. The 19-year-old has been charged with unlawfully getting in a vehicle and possession of cannabis and has been bailed to appear at Feilding District Court on Wednesday, May 27.
The car had been stolen from Awapuni this morning.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.