Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) that found officers' use of force was justified when taking a man into custody in Whanganui in 2023.
On 12 December about 4am, two officers on patrol saw a SUV on the curb with the bonnet up and taillights on, on Talbot Street.
The officers stopped to speak to three men that were near the vehicle, one of whom ran from Police.
One officer got his dog out from the van while the other armed himself with a sponge round launcher and challenged the man to come out from a property.
As the man emerged, a sponge round was deployed, and it was at this stage one of the officers identified the man as someone with a warrant out for his arrest, and who had previously shot and driven at Police.
This information informed the officers' continued response, having identified that the man potentially posed serious risk to staff and the wider public.
The scene was chaotic, and officers used all available non-lethal tactical options in attempts to subdue and arrest the man, however these were unsuccessful, and he got to his feet and pushed past staff.
It was at this point that an officer fired a shot from a Glock pistol, seriously wounding the man.
The IPCA found that the officers' actions were justified.
Superintendent Dion Bennett, Central District Commander acknowledges the findings released today.
"Our officers that night were carrying out routine patrol, which quickly escalated.
"Police made a split-second decision in a quickly developing circumstance where they had to defend themselves and others in the area."
As the arrest incident was unfolding, residents on the street were witnessing and recording the event. Police asked for a member of the public's phone, to obtain the footage as evidence.
A struggle ensured as the woman tried to hide her phone, and another member of the public also became involved and attempted to obstruct Police.
That person was subsequently pepper sprayed, and the Authority found the officer's actions were justified in the circumstances.
Police note the IPCA's residual concerns into the escalating situation and have taken learnings from the incident, acknowledging the additional opportunities and training insights from this report.
