Police praise actions of alert motorist

Press, 21 November 1986, Page 2

Police praise actions of alert motorist

PA Napier The Napier police yesterday praised a passing motorist who alerted them to the alleged kidnapping of a girl, aged eight, on Wednesday evening. The motorist, a Napier watersider who did not wish to be named, said he had a “gut feeling” that something was wrong when he saw a man approach the girl as he drove by. He drove on, not seeing the girl get into the car, but decided to go back. His suspicions were further aroused when the car headed for the Tataekuri River.

He followed the car, then drove to the Taradale police station. A policeman quickly drove to the river and approached the parked car. A man then leapt from the car and ran off. The policeman found the girl in the car in a distressed state.

Detective Sergeant Noel Hawkins said the area was immediately cordoned. Road checkpoints were set up.

A helicopter was called in but developed an engine fault and was grounded. A fixed-wing aircraft then flew into the area and made about six sweeps of the area. Dogs were also used to search the area but without success.

About 7 p.m. the police were alerted by a Napier City Council traffic officer to a man, fitting the description given by the police, who was seen on the footpath near the Greenmeadows Hotel. A police patrol arrested the man.

Detective Sergeant Hawkins praised the motorist who had alerted them to the situation for his “sensitive actions and initiative” and said he had averted a potentially tragic incident.

He also had words of praise for the Napier City Council traffic department which, he said, had assisted the police many times in the past. A Napier man appeared in the District Court at Napier yesterday morning, charged with kidnapping and indecent assault.