Police updates on crimes and investigations for 20 October 2022.
A happy end to search for missing West Coast woman
Police would like to thank Land Search and Rescue volunteers who helped in the search for a woman missing for hours in bush in the Haast area.
The woman, who was visiting the area, was reported missing at 1am, having left for a walk at 9.30pm. There was heavy rain in the area at the time, and due to concerns for her welfare, the West Coast Police Search and Rescue team worked through the night to plan a search.
LandSAR teams from the West Coast and Otago, including two tracking dogs, were deployed to the area and a local jet boat operator was put on standby.
The missing woman was located by a routine patrol, safe and well, about 10am. She was taken to a local medical centre for a check-up.
‘The dedication and care shown by the volunteers in cases like this is heartwarming and we would like to thank them for the help they gave Police,’ said Senior Sergeant Brent Cook.
Fifteen arrested after fleeing driver incidents across Auckland
Police across Auckland arrested 15 young people overnight following fleeing driver incidents involving stolen vehicles.
Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers says the 15 people apprehended were young people aged between 11 and 16.
“Our staff have done incredible work in bringing these incidents to a safe conclusion while also apprehending those in the stolen vehicles.”
The first incident occurred near Papakura, at around 11.23pm, with spikes successfully being deployed near Manurewa.
Another stolen vehicle was sighted on the South-Western Motorway, at around 11.28pm, and was eventually concluded near Māngere.
The third incident occurred before 1am where a stolen vehicle was sighted near Grey Lynn. It was sighted along with another vehicle near Parnell and both failed to stop and fled on the North Western Motorway.
One vehicle was later stopped back in Parnell, with the other in the New Lynn area.
“Our staff utilised appropriate tactics to monitor the vehicle’s movements and bring the incidents to a conclusion,” Assistant Commissioner Chambers says.
“Enquiries will be ongoing into the fleeing driver incidents, with appropriate enforcement action being taken as a result.
“Police continue to engage our partner agencies around young people we are identifying in offending, as they work to try and address the drivers behind their offending.”
Name release – fatal crash, Waiomio
Police can now release the name of the person who died following a crash on SH1, Waiomio on Tuesday, 18 October.
She was Angela Dadson, aged 71, of Moerewa.
Enquiries into the crash are ongoing.
Missing West Melton teenager found
The 15-year-old girl missing from West Melton has been located.
Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.