SHOTS FIRED

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 8

SHOTS FIRED

POLICE CHASE. j CITY TO AVONDALE. YOUTHS IN MOTOR CAR. ONE WITH REVOLVER. A sensational motor chase took place in the city at an early hour this morning, when the police night patrol car pursued two youths in a motor car from Ponsonby right out to Roscbank Road, Avondale, where a detective fired several shots from his pistol after one of the occupants of the other vehicle, it is alleged, presented a revolver at those in the police car. The two occupants of the car, which is alleged to have been taken from Richardson Road, Mount Albert, about midnight, were caught by the police. As both are under 17 years of age, they were not arrested, but allowed to return to their homes. They will appear later before the Children's Court. Suspicions Aroused. Shortly after one o'clock this morning the night police patrol car, driven by Constable Howe and containing Detective F. Brady and Constable Lander, was cruising slowly along Ponsonby Road, when the suspicions of the police officers were aroused because of the erratic course which was being steered by a five-seater touring car. They decided to follow this car, which immediately speeded up and went into Karangaliape Road and turned up into Symonds Street. By this time both cars were travelling fast, the car which was being pursued swerving at times from side to side. An effort was made by the police to run the other car into the kerbside, but this attempt failed.

The police car chased the touring car along Dominion Road, into Balmoral Road, through. Sandringliam, on to Mount Albert Road and thence to Avondale. The chase led the police into Rosebank Road, where the front car turned down a blind road. Just before the car stopped, it is alleged that one of the youths in the car opened a side door and pointed a revolver at the officers in the police car. The two occupants of the car who had been pursued thus far then hurriedly got out and disappeared in the darkness into a paddock.

With the idea of forcing the men to stop, Detective Brady pulled out his pistol and fired several shots into the air, but they ran on across the paddocks and could not be found. Two Youths Located. The police then made a thorough search of the locality and about an houi after the disappearance of the two occupants of the car, a youth was located as he was making towards the main road. He was taken to the police station and later to his home. Further inquiries were made during the early hours of this morning, with the result that a second suspect believed to have been concerned in the exploit was found at, his home in Mount Albert. It is alleged that a loaded revolver was found in his possession. The touring car, which had been chased by the police car, was brought to the city station. This car was the property of Mr. Sydney Tew, of 5, Richardson Road, Mount Albert. He left the car parked outside his residence at midnight last night and did not miss it until he got up this morning, when he reported its disappearance to the police and was informed that it was at the city station. Owner Interviewed. Interviewed this morning, Mr. ,Te\v said that as far as he could see his i car had not been damaged. "The speedometer showed that it had travelled 20 miles," said Mr. Tew. '"I know that after it left my plftea it went to the city and later to Ponsonby, where the police patrol car picked it up and chased it from the city through Mount Eden, Sandringham, Mount Albert and •then to Rosebank Road, Avondale, where I understand one of the youths in the car presented a- revolver at tha police, who fired over the heads of the two youths when they dashed from the car and went across country. I was told by the police that on two occasions they tried to stop my car, but it got away each time. I also understand that once the police car, after forcing the other vehicle into the gutter, backed into it, but the driver backed out and made off again. When T was at the : detective office this morning I saw the revolver which, it is alleged, the police found in possession of one of the youths. It was not loaded theit." Mr. Tew took possession of his car this morning.