Police hunt armed attackers

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 1

Police hunt armed attackers

PA Wanganu: Armed offenders squads, from Palmerston North and Wanganui were last evening hunting two men who-shot a motorist and beat up a traffic officer at Owhango, 20km south of Taumarunui. The motorist was shot in a leg after stopping to help the traffic officer, who was being beaten. About 35 police, including the armed offenders squads, were searching the Taumarunui area for the two men. Sergeant Fergie Mackay, of Wanganui, said the traffic officer stopped a brown Triumph at Owhango at 4 p.m. One man got into the patrol car as the officer, Mr lan Harrison, of Ohakune, was writing out a speeding ticket. The man attacked Mr Harrison. The other occupant of the Triumph smashed a window of the patrol car, then got into its back seat. “He tried to strangle the officer with the cord from his radio,” Mr Mackay said. “This happened while the traffic officer was fighting (he first offender.” The offenders overpowered Mr Harrison. One of the men went back to the Triumph while the other made the traffic officer drive south as he held the cord round his neck. “While doing a U-turn, the officer managed to roll out of his car,” Mr Mackay said. “He was then further punched and kicked by one of the men.” A pistol was drawn by one man. “A passing motorist who stopped to assist the officer was shot in a leg,” Mr Mackay said.