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National | Crime

Investigation into police actions underway following death of Napier man

An investigation into police actions into the death of a 53-year-old man last night in Napier is underway.

The man died while being apprehended by 10 police officers last night, after he violently attacked his parents in Hastings, leaving his elderly father hospitalised.

It was at a Westshore carpark around midnight that the 10 police officers carrying two tasers, pepper spray and dogs, apprehended a 53-year-old man while sitting in his car, only hours after he allegedly attacked his parents with a cosh.

Mike Johnson says, “He resisted attempts to get out of the vehicle, and he was removed from the vehicle by smashing several windows in the car.”

Police say one taser was deployed but wouldn't confirm if it struck the man.  He also suffered dog bites and while being apprehended from his vehicle, he struggled to breathe and his face changed colour.  Then police tried to resuscitate him but to no avail.

A second taser was also deployed at the scene, but police say the investigation that is underway will reveal if the taser deployment is linked to the man's death or not.  There is an on-going inquiry also into the attack on his parents.

Mike Johnson says, “The man was known to police and had police history but I'm not prepared to go into the details of that at this time.”

Police say there was evidence of alcohol present in the man's car but are unclear whether he was intoxicated.  The man's father has now been released from hospital to return home.