Police unit attacked

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 7

Police unit attacked

PA Wellington A policeman was kicked in the head when a carload of men attacked a threeman team policing unit from the Hutt Valley in Masterton on Saturday night, the police said yesterday. Masterton Senior-Sergeant Alan McMurtree said the unprovoked attack 1 was “particularly nasty.” Sergeant Alan McCabe had to be treated for cuts and bruising to the chest and head. He was not admitted to hospital and „ was back on duty yesterday. The unit was in the Wairarapa in anticipation of gang trouble with the scheduled unveiling of the headstone of Nomad gang member Raymond Rimene, shot a year ago at the Solway Showgrounds., Senior-Sergeant McMurtree said the unveiling was cancelled and there were no problems.

However, the Hutt unit stayed in Masterton to help with routine patrols. The visiting officers stopped a fight outside a tavern and soon after stopped a car with seven occupants in Cole Street at 11 p.m. They were about to breath-test the driver when he ran off and was chased by an officer. The car’s other occupants attacked and although Sergeant McCabe was injured imthe fight he managed to radio for help. Unfamiliar with the town he could not pinpoint his exact location and left the car’s siren on. The officers used batons to fend off the attackers. When reinforcements arrived, they arrested four men and charged three of them with assault on a police officer and a fourth with breach of the peace.