Alleged gunman appears in court

A 32-year-old Auckland man charged with discharging a firearm following a high-speed police chase overnight has been remanded in custody without plea until August 11.

Donny Falakoa appeared in Tauranga District Court today where his lawyer Tony Rickard-Simms asked for an adjournment in the case in order to get more information.
Police with a Tasman Aluminium vehicle at the intersection of Marine Parade and Clyde Street in Mount Maunganui last night.

Rickard-Simms says the firearms charge may not be the only charge his client faces and more may be laid depending on the police investigation.

The charges stem from the overnight police chase that began at Whakamarama following a driving complaint near Katikati at 8.45pm and ended in Mount Maunganui.

During the chase, Falakoa is accused of shooting at a police officer after allegedly crashing a car at the Baypark roundabout.

Police earlier said at least three members of the public were confronted at gunpoint as the alleged gunman attempted to carjack a vehicle.

Falakoa is also accused of carjacking a vehicle from a worker at a commercial building on Truman Lane. Read more about the experience of Tasman Aluminium worker Nigel Baker here.

Police say Falakoa drove the vehicle along the expressway and at some point a fire extinguisher was thrown out the window.

The vehicle was spiked and the officer deploying the spikes had to take action to avoid being struck by the vehicle.

Police lost sight of the vehicle but a second pursuit ensued 40 minutes later when the car was spotted near the Maungatapu Bridge.

The chase took officers to Marine Parade, where police say a firearm was presented out the driver's window before falling to the ground.

The vehicle came to a stop a short time later and the driver was arrested near Tay Street.

In court today, Judge Thomas Ingram remanded Falakoa in custody by consent.

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1 comment

not nice

Posted on 01-08-2014 07:42 | By dave4u

http://www.police.govt.nz/stolenwanted/ten7/2014/case-1-wanted-donny-falakoa?page=1


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