A man has been arrested and charged over a “concerning” incident in Waitara last week where a car was stolen with a baby inside, with the infant later abandoned on the roadside.
The 34-year-old is facing a number of charges, including abducting a child, aggravated assault, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and failing to stop for police.
Detective Senior Sergeant Debra Gower said officers spotted a person of interest on State Highway 1 just before 7.30pm last night.
Police activated lights and sirens, but the driver fled.
“Police initiated a pursuit which was soon abandoned due to the manner of driving.”
Sighting the vehicle again on State Highway 3, spikes were successfully deployed.
The car was later found abandoned, and officers managed to find the man with the help of a police dog unit.
On May 10, a car was stolen from outside a dairy on the corner of Queen and Cameron St in Waitara, Taranaki.
The incident occurred just moments after the mother had got out of the vehicle.
Video footage shows a car speeding around a corner before a man takes a baby from the backseat, putting it on the grass berm before driving off.
The car was later found abandoned in New Plymouth early on Monday morning.
Gower said this was a “concerning incident” and that “police are pleased to see this offender, who showed little concern for the safety of the community, before the courts.”
The man will appear in New Plymouth District Court on May 30.
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