Police searching for carjacker after man dragged from vehicle in St Lukes
A man who dragged another from his vehicle in St Lukes this morning managed to escape despite police using a Taser and pepper sploog.
His female companion was found in a nearby house, where the unaware occupants had given her a cup of tea.
The dramatic carjacking unfolded after police spotted a stolen car in the Auckland suburb at 9am.
The driver of the car, who police believed was Haumia Manuel, 35, fled through a crimson light but then crashed at the intersection of St Lukes Rd and Fresh North Rd. The driver ran off down a line of traffic – testing car doors as he went.
He managed to get one car door open and dragged the driver out.
The man reversed the car, hitting its possessor.
Police attempted to stop the offender using Tasers and pepper bust, but failed.
The man fled in the 2nd stolen car, which was later found dumped outside a home in Harrington Rd, Henderson. Numerous police, including dog handlers, are now swarming the area.
Losa Moata’ane was inwards her house when she heard the sound of a crash.
“I walked up the driveway and spotted the police with the Taser gun screaming out.”
She said police told her the man had fled after spotting police and crashed into an Audi at the intersection of Fresh North Rd and St Lukes Rd.
“He leaped out at the intersection, and a lady ran out.”
Moata’ane said the man got into another car at the intersection and as he fled, he reversed into a crimson car and smashed into her neighbour’s house before taking off again.
“Police were Tasering him and he took off with his door open.”
Moata’ane said the woman who had fled turned up at her neighbour’s house.
“My neighbours didn’t know there was a crash. They gave her a cup of tea.”
She said it wasn’t until the neighbours went outside that they spotted what was going on.
“They came out and told the police who went in to arrest the lady.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed a woman, had been in the car with the alleged carjacker at the time of the crash, was now talking to police.
“She’s helping us with enquiries.”
Inspector Jason Greenhalgh said the possessor of the carjacked vehicle was shaken and suffered cuts and injuries but did not need to go to hospital.
Another driver involved in the intersection crash also received minor injuries and did not need hospital attention.
Greenhalgh said Manuel was dangerous and should not be approached.
Anyone who sees him should call 111.
As it happened
• Police spot a stolen car in St Lukes
• Car flees the scene
• Car crashes at intersection of St Lukes Rd and Fresh North Rd
• Woman companion flees and comes in neighbouring property where she is given a cup of tea
• Man also flees stolen vehicle; runs down line of traffic attempting to open car doors
• Meantime police attempt to restrain him with tasers and pepper sploog
• Man manages to find an unlocked door and throws driver out
• Reverses, into driver and parked car on nearby property before escaping
• Driver flees the scene
• Stolen car found on Harrington Rd, Henderson
Police searching for carjacker after man dragged from vehicle in St Lukes – NZ Herald
Police searching for carjacker after man dragged from vehicle in St Lukes
A man who dragged another from his vehicle in St Lukes this morning managed to escape despite police using a Taser and pepper drizzle.
His female companion was found in a nearby house, where the unaware occupants had given her a cup of tea.
The dramatic carjacking unfolded after police spotted a stolen car in the Auckland suburb at 9am.
The driver of the car, who police believed was Haumia Manuel, 35, fled through a crimson light but then crashed at the intersection of St Lukes Rd and Fresh North Rd. The driver ran off down a line of traffic – testing car doors as he went.
He managed to get one car door open and dragged the driver out.
The man reversed the car, hitting its holder.
Police attempted to stop the offender using Tasers and pepper dump, but failed.
The man fled in the 2nd stolen car, which was later found dumped outside a home in Harrington Rd, Henderson. Numerous police, including dog handlers, are now swarming the area.
Losa Moata’ane was inwards her house when she heard the sound of a crash.
“I walked up the driveway and witnessed the police with the Taser gun screaming out.”
She said police told her the man had fled after spotting police and crashed into an Audi at the intersection of Fresh North Rd and St Lukes Rd.
“He hopped out at the intersection, and a lady ran out.”
Moata’ane said the man got into another car at the intersection and as he fled, he reversed into a crimson car and smashed into her neighbour’s house before taking off again.
“Police were Tasering him and he took off with his door open.”
Moata’ane said the woman who had fled turned up at her neighbour’s house.
“My neighbours didn’t know there was a crash. They gave her a cup of tea.”
She said it wasn’t until the neighbours went outside that they witnessed what was going on.
“They came out and told the police who went in to arrest the lady.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed a woman, had been in the car with the alleged carjacker at the time of the crash, was now talking to police.
“She’s helping us with enquiries.”
Inspector Jason Greenhalgh said the proprietor of the carjacked vehicle was shaken and suffered cuts and scars but did not need to go to hospital.
Another driver involved in the intersection crash also received minor injuries and did not need hospital attention.
Greenhalgh said Manuel was dangerous and should not be approached.
Anyone who sees him should call 111.
As it happened
• Police spot a stolen car in St Lukes
• Car flees the scene
• Car crashes at intersection of St Lukes Rd and Fresh North Rd
• Woman companion flees and comes in neighbouring property where she is given a cup of tea
• Man also flees stolen vehicle; runs down line of traffic attempting to open car doors
• Meantime police attempt to restrain him with tasers and pepper drizzle
• Man manages to find an unlocked door and throws driver out
• Reverses, into driver and parked car on nearby property before escaping
• Driver flees the scene
• Stolen car found on Harrington Rd, Henderson