Force against escaper justified—police

Press, 13 February 1988, Page 34

Force against escaper justified—police

PA Wellington A prison escaper, Peter John Carr, was hit by a policeman on the night of his arrest but the officer’s actions were justified, an internal police inquiry has found. Carr, through his lawyer, Mr Fuimaono Tuiasau, laid a complaint alleging excessive force against the police when he was arrested in Wellington on November 20 last year. Carr was the man the helicopter pilot, Peter Button, was looking for when Mr Button’s machine crashed, killing

the three men aboard. Superintendent Brian Williams, head of the Wellington police city division, said Carr was struck by a dog handler when he (Carr) rushed at him. Mr Williams said he was “quite satisfied” the striking of Carr was justified in the circumstances and in law. "The force used was not unreasonable in the circumstances,” he said. Mr Williams said no disciplinary action would be taken against the dog handler, nor any of the police involved in Carr’s arrest. Carr also claimed

he was bitten in the leg by a police dog. Mr Williams said there was no evidence to support that, and medical evidence backed up the police view. Carr’s final complaint was that he was punched in the stomach and head several times after his arrest. Mr Williams said there was no medical evidence to support that, and the police strongly denied the charge. Mr Williams said Carr and Mr Tuiasau had been advised of the report. He said there was “no need” to take any action against the police. 0