POLICE FIGHT ON ROOF TOP TO MAKE AN ARREST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22817, 11 December 1948, Page 6

POLICE FIGHT ON ROOF TOP TO MAKE AN ARREST

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. A police constable described in evidence in the Magistrate’s Court today how he climbed on to the roof of a building in Lambton Quay shortly after midnight on Saturday and had grappled with a young man and had to uso his baton.

Patrick Ryan Douglas McLean, aged 2.1 years, a cook, and Ronald Ralph Check, aged 42. a mechanic, were each charged with being found unlawfully on premises in Lambton Quay on December 4 The witness said he had to climb 15ft. up the wall of the building by means of a drainpipe to get to the accused McLean. On reaching the roof, the witness heard McClean call out that if the witness came near he (McLean) would fall through a fanlight and would take the constable with him. “He then grabbed me," said the witness "but I managed to free myself and cal! below for a baton. The accused made another grab at me and I hit him twice on the arm.

"Ho then made a kind of tackle at me and I aimed at his shoulder, but the baton struck his head. He was knocked unconscious with this blow and we got him off the roof through the fanlight." Constable Roberts said In evidence that both the accused had been seen in an alleyway drinking beer and later both of them had been seen on the roof. The accused, Check, was later found standing by the wall of the building. The magistrate. Mr. A. M. Goulding, remarking that McLean could not have been very drunk to bo able to climb on to the roof and that he though* his intentions were more ulterior rather than just a joke, sentenced him to two month's imprisonment. Check, whom the magistrate said had a good record, was admitted to probation.