Northland news briefs: December 31
Boy found intoxicated
A 14-year-old Whangarei boy has been referred to the Child Youth and Family service after police found him heavily intoxicated in the central city in the early hours of the morning. Whangarei police Acting Sergeant Geoff Bigwood said it was a worry for police to have a 14-year-old so drunk in town at that hour. Mr Bigwood said the boy was found on Vine St at 12.55am yesterday. The boy was so drunk that he had to be taken back to the police station, where his parents were called. The boy was placed back in the care of his parents and Child Youth and Family informed.
Camera spots fighters
People out and about in central Whangarei at night always have the eyes of the law on them, as two Whangarei men found out early yesterday. Sergeant Bigwood said officers monitoring CCTV cameras in the CBD spotted two men fighting in Vine St at 4.35am. Police quickly went to the scene and arrested two men, aged 19 and 21, who were charged with fighting in a public place.
Car's gone for a month
A Whangarei man has had his car impounded for 28 days after police who stopped him for speeding discovered he had earlier been suspended from driving. Police stopped the man on State Highway 1, at Mata, at 12.15pm on Saturday as he was speeding, Sergeant Bigwood said. A check revealed that the 22-year-old had earlier been suspended from driving and, as a result, his vehicle was impounded for 28 days.
Man, boy in argument
A man and boy have been arrested after the neighbours got into a heated argument, where a bat, fence paling and knife were brandished, Whangarei police say. Sergeant Bigwood said officers were called to Fairburn St at 5.50pm on Saturday after reports of two people fighting in the street. A 52-year-old man and 15-year-old boy from neighbouring homes were involved in the altercation and Mr Bigwood said the man allegedly grabbed a bat while the boy allegedly picked up a tomahawk and wielded it at the man. Other people managed to calm the pair down, but the boy came back with a fence paling to have a go at the man, he said. Both were arrested by police and charges may include assault with a weapon and possession of an offensive weapon.
