An early morning walk ended with a man in court facing charges in Stanmore Bay, north of Auckland, on Thursday morning.
At around 5.24am a woman was walking on D’oyly Drive when a man deliberately crossed the road and approached her.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Jimmy Kim from Waitematā Police says that without warning the man grabbed the female victim by her arms, holding her firmly and preventing her from moving away.
“The victim was trying to pull free and put some distance between them.
“Throughout the struggle the alleged offender was yelling at her, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying due to having her earpods in.”
The victim was able to break free and fled on foot, however the alleged offender pursued her as she attempted to escape.
“The victim was able to use a parked car as a barrier,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kim says.
“Fortunately, members of the public travelling along D’oyly Drive witnessed this happening and came to the victim’s assistance.”
As they stopped their vehicles and came to her aid, the alleged offender fled the area.
“Later that morning staff undertaking enquiries into the incident sighted a man matching the description provided by he victim,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kim says.
“Upon seeing Police this man ducked down the nearest driveway in an attempt to evade officers.”
It was established the man had no reason to be at the property, and after a short struggle he was taken into custody.
“This was good work by staff who spotted this man while conducting enquiries into the incident that morning,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kim says.
“Officers were in the right place at the right time when this man returned to the scene of his alleged earlier crime.
“This was no doubt a terrifying incident for the victim and I am pleased that we were able to quickly locate and arrest the alleged offender.”
A 40-year-old man appeared in the North Shore District Court Friday charged with assault with intent to injure, unlawfully being in an enclosed yard, resisting police, assaulting a first responder and possessing utensils for methamphetamine.
