Ramming of police car charge dismissed

Press, 7 April 1984, Page 4

Ramming of police car charge dismissed

PA Wanganui A man who reversed his vehicle into a police car during a chase by armed police, had all charges against him dismissed yesterday. Colin Wise, aged 26, a Wanganui plumber, had pleaded not guilty to intentionally reversing the utility vehicle which he was driving, into a police car during the chase on January 7. Judge D. Lowe told the District Court at Wanganui that he was satisfied Wise had reversed into the police car, an action which Wise denied. However, he was not satisfied the ramming was intentional.

Wise was also charged with endangering the three

policemen in the police car

by turning "unpredictably.” This action caused a collision between the utility vehicle and the police car. He pleaded not guilty. The Judge said that Wise could not be blamed for this manoeuvre as he felt he was in danger from the police car’s occupants. One of the police car’s passengers had earlier pointed a pistol at Wise and Wise did not know he was a policeman, he said. The Judge dismissed the charge and another of endangering the unknown motorists during the chase. He made no order for costs for the four-day hearing and refused to make an order for restitution for damage to the police car.