Waimarino:

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 675, 25 February 1997, Page 14

Waimarino:

On Monday an Ohakune man was charged with cultivation of cannabis after several plants were located in his garden. On Sunday morning a Reefton man staying in Ohakune was arrested for assaulting a local 17-year old youth and, in a separate incident, a Raetihi man was arrested for assaulting his wife. On Sunday evening a local man was taken to Wanganui for a mental health assessment after he had set fire to grass on the side of Tohunga Road and later made a malicious call to the fire service. Overnight Sunday 16 February Turners and Growers premises were burgled and a quantity of vegetable sprays stolen. On Tuesday there was an attempted arson to a woodshed at a Miro Street house resulting in minor damage and on Saturday night a car parked outside the marae had obscene words scratched onto the boot lid. Of concern was a report received regarding a male approaching a young girl in Rangataua on Saturday 15 February and asking her improper questions. The man decamped when observed by the girl's mother. The man is described as being a Maori in his 40' s, about 170cm in height, medium build, with a clean shaven face and dark hair with some silver streaks. He was wearing a light blue long-sleeve sweatshirt and white trousers, possibly jeans. There was a crash attended during the week on Rangataua Road when a car stopped and was hit from behind resulting in minor injury. A Raetihi man was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol after having been stopped at a checkpoint. Local police are also conducting a campaign in relation to seatbelts, especially child restraints and also bicycle helmets. Several checkpoints were conducted and a number of tickets issued. Waiouru: Waiouru police attended several crashes during the week. One occurred on the Desert Road when a car entered a comer too fast and rolled. Both occupants suffered serious injury and were airlifted to hospital. Another occurred on the Desert Road in road works where a car lost control and skidded some 80m into the training grounds before stopping. The driver was not hurt. A cannabis recovery operation was conducted and resulted in 300 plants being removed from various plots.