ATTEMPT TO STOP CAR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 3

ATTEMPT TO STOP CAR

POLICE SERGEANT’S ACTION DRIVER COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 27. The story of a courageous attempt by a pblice sergeant to arrest the driver of an unlawfully converted motor-car, who escaped after trying to dislodge the sergeant from the running board, was told in the Magistrate’s Court today when Paul Roger Devenish, aged 22, a seaman, appeared on three charges of unlawful conversion of motor-cars, and with the theft of 40 gallons of petrol and tools. Sergeant Jones gave evidence that he recognised the vehicle as a stolen one and as it was moving from a service station he attempted to remove the ignition key from the switch. The accused, who was driving, screwed up the window, jamming the witness’s arm. The witness jumped on the running board to avoid being dragged. The accused drove al«mg the road erratically in an attempt to throw witness off the car, making sharp turns into side streets. The witness lifted the bonnet and pulled the wires from the distributor. The driver drove close to posts in an attempt to brush witness off. When the speed dropped to 15 miles an hour th*e accused rolled out of the car through the other door, and ran away.

The accused admitted all charges. He was committed to tne Supreme Court fqr sentence.