Admitted Assault On Traffic Officer

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 3

Admitted Assault On Traffic Officer

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 13. A traffic officer was knocked to the ground and then kicked in the face after stopping a motor-cyclist he had followed at speeds up to 85 miles an hour, Sgt. E. R. Hutchinson said in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland today.

Kevin John Bradley, aged 19, a machine-maintenance man, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one of wilful damage. Mr W. J. Meade, S.M., remanded him until June 17. Sergeant Hutchinson said Bradley and a friend left the

Huapai Hotel after drinking for about two hours on Saturday. Their driving drew the attention of a traffic officer, who followed them. On the north-western motorway they reached speeds of 85 miles an hour. When the officer sounded his siren, Bradley stopped immediately, but his companion rode on. When the officer came up to Bradley he saw half a dozen bottles of beer broken on the road. Bradley said they had fallen off his motorcycle when he stopped. The officer ordered him to pick them up. Bradley immediately attacked him, knocked him to the ground, then kicked him. Bradley also attacked a passing motorist who came to the aid of the traffic officer, but he did not injure him. The traffic officer was taken to Auckland Hospital and treated for cuts, bruises and shock.