Police are appealing for witnesses after a family harm incident in Khandallah, Wellington, left a man in critical condition yesterday.
Around 12pm on Thursday, 9 January, officers responded to reports of a man wielding a bladed object at a bus stop on Cockayne Road. Witnesses reported that the man had damaged a bus shelter and threatened a woman who was accompanied by a small child.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch says police arrived quickly and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
“A Taser was deployed at the 32-year-old alleged offender, and he fell to the ground, hitting his head,” he says.
The man received immediate medical attention from officers before being transported to hospital by ambulance. He remains in a critical condition.
The woman sustained a minor injury, believed to have been caused by the bladed object, and was treated at the scene. Fortunately, the child was unharmed. Both the woman and child are receiving ongoing support.
“This was a volatile and unpredictable incident where there was an immediate threat to life,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Leitch. “We would like to thank the members of the public who called 111 without hesitation.”
Police are aware that additional witnesses may have assisted or observed the incident but have not yet provided statements.
“We are appealing for those individuals to come forward. If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online or call 105,” Leitch says.
Police emphasise the importance of public cooperation in helping them fully understand the sequence of events leading up to the incident.
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