POLICE FIRED AT

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1932, Page 5

POLICE FIRED AT

WHEN ARRESTING MAN In Taranaki Town (Per Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, March-15. Detective Meiklejohr. and Constable Toeker had an uneviable cxepriencc lust night at Tikon.ngi when, it is alleged, they were threat ened by Chn; - tian De, Rink with :t double-barrailed shot-gun on attempting to arrest ln.i on four charges of :alsp pretence.--. One barrel of the gun was discharged when the man was rushed and overpowered by Detective Meiklejohn. De Rink, who had been'living near Tikerangi) for about., two months,- wus wanted on four charges alleging , that he had - obtained from A. A. Coban- ami !v>ns, Wellington, various quantities <>f wine totalling in value £65/1on the false representation that they had been ordered by four different r»‘sideuts of Wellington, some of them licensees of hotels. i The Detective and Constable won’ to the house to arrest De Rink. lie lad evidently some information the* the police were after him, and he gained possession of a shotgun. ILmet the officers with this. When he returned about 8.30 p.m., Detective Meiklejohn was on guard at the back of the place, and it is alleged that the man at once pointed the gun at him and threatened to shoot if he attempted arrest. After a little parley, the Detective approached the man, who made oil' in the dark. Detective Meiklejohn vailed to Constable Tooker, who was on guard at the front of the house, that De Rink had a gun. The man returned in a quarter of an hour, and he seemed more defiant. The officers did their best to quiet him. and to persuade him to submit quietly, but he refused. Detective Meiklejohn at an opportune moment, while Constable Toeker had Do Rink engaged in conversation, rushed the man, grabling him under his free aim, and getting his other arm across to the arm which still held the gun. De Rink made a last desperate struggle. One barrel was discharged, but the shot went wide of both officers. De Rink was thrown, and was subsequently brought to New Plymouth in a car. Do Rink was brought before the. [Court, whore, in addition to charges

delating to false pretences, he was charged that, with intent to resist lawful apprehension, he attempted to discharge a firearm at Detective Meiklcjohn and Constable Tcekor. He was remanded to appear on March 23rd.