POLICE CONSTABLE INJURED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 20 September 1933, Page 8

POLICE CONSTABLE INJURED.

CAR THIEF’S ESCAPADE, Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Sept. 20. The whole of the Auckland Police Force are grimly determined to-day to locate a motor thief who, early this morning, was responsible tor serious injuries suffered Dy Constable Ernest Edward Stewart. The police about 9 o’clock last night were notified of the theft of a new sedan car, and about midnight, in Grey Lynn, the constable saw it. Hailing a taxi, he gave chase and drew up alongside. He leapt on to the running board and the driver immediately accelerated wiiTie the constable, gripping the rear door handle, tried to open the door. The handle broke off, but he maintained his footing and, with the car travelling at a liign speed, edged along and seized tile front door handle. The driver began to francticaliy punch at the constable, who endeavoured to retaliate. Then a stationary car was seen ahead on the side of the road and it is alleged that the driver of the stolen car deliberately, in a desperate effort to dislodge the constable, swerved the car over the road to the stationary one. Realising that ho might be crushed, the constable tried to flatten himself against the side. The car crashed along the side of the other vehicle, tearing both mudguards from it and hurling the constable headlong along the road. The owner of the parked car, who was standing in the doorway of a house, hurried out to see the stolen car disappearing at high speed and the constable lying oil the road. He was taken to the hospital with one legshattered and his right shoulder and hand also injured, and his face lacerated. An operation was performed almost immediately. No effort is being spared by tho police to trace the driver of the stolen car.