Speeding Driver Pointed Rifle At Traffic Officer

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30043, 30 January 1963, Page 14

Speeding Driver Pointed Rifle At Traffic Officer

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 29. A traffic officer abandoned chasing a car doing up to 70 miles an hour when he saw a Rifle muzzle pointing out of a window, Senior-Sergeant G. A. Dallow, told the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland today. Kenneth Bruce West, aged 22, a plasterer, appeared before Mr W. J, Meade, S.M., on two charges of dangerous driving, carrying a loaded firearm in a car, committing a threatening act, presenting a firearm at a person, assuming the designation of a policeman, converting a motor-cycle, and stealing motor registration plates. West admitted all the charges. Senior - Sergeant Dallow said that on November 30 West was in possession of a rental car. He had a .22 rifle and drove the car into the city and bought a box of ammunition. The next night West was seen by a policeman in the domain and he took possession of the ammunition. Two days later a police patrol car almost collided with West’s rental oar. West ignored signals to stop and the police car gave chase, getting up to 80 miles an hour. West ignored school patrol and stop signs and the police car which gave the right of way to children lost sight of West.

Later a traffic officer in a patrol car saw West drive through a compulsory stop and followed him ait speeds up to 70 miles an hour. The officer stopped the chase when he saw the muzzle of a rifle pointing out of the window.

The next night a women living in Rockfield road, Ellerslie, heard a knock on the door. She asked who it was before answering and the person called out that it was "Constable Blake.”

The woman opened the door and was confronted by West who menaced her with a rifle. He stayed 45 minutes before being persuaded to put- the rifle away. Later West went with his wife to her mother's place where the police arrested him. West had appeared in court in December and was remanded till January 7, but on January 1 he took a motor-cycle, and registration plates from another motorcycle at Auckland. On January 7 he rode to Whangarei and on that day a Bench warrant was issued for his arrest. After an extensive police search he was located. The Magistrate called for a probation and psychiatric report and remanded West for sentence till February 5.