Covid 19 coronavirus: Central Hawke’s Bay police spit, withdrew for Covid 19 testing

Two Central Hawke’s Bay police officers were removed as a precaution, after being spit on by a woman who later claimed to have symptoms of Covid-19.

The couple was acting on an arrest warrant at a Porangahau address when the suspect spat on both officers.

He is also alleged to have spit on Hastings custody officers before claiming he had symptoms of Covid-19.

All affected officers will be evaluated for Covid-19 and withdrawn as a precaution until tests yield a result.

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Meanwhile, two CHB residents are now on a 24-hour curfew after repeatedly violating level 4 blocking restrictions.

CHB Police Officer Andy Walker says two Takapau residents were arrested for violating the closing regulations and leaving their address without good reason.

He says they are under curfew at his home.

Walker says others have been issued warning letters for violating regulations, and some have issued subpoenas to appear in court for repeated violations.

And the Ministry of Primary Industries is considering what measures to take against two divers caught with smaller paua.

Walker says he was at the local beaches on Monday along with MPI. The couple received education about the violation of the Covid-19 blockade, and Walker says that MPI is considering what steps to take for the paua.

The cattle poaching problem arose during the shutdown, with Sergeant Andrew Knox saying that the police have noticed, and have had reports of suspicious activity in rural areas, and suspicious poaching is occurring.

Walker says he has been conducting regular patrols in the Makaretu area due to the number of suspicious vehicles that are circulating and that are not local.

A shot was heard during an incident on Wilson Cutting Rd, after a vehicle was reported to be driving late at night.

Walker says there have been several historical incidents of people shooting deer on plaintiff’s property.

• Covid19.govt.nz – The official government Covid-19 advisory website

In another incident, three deer carcasses were found on the road on Gwavas Rd.

Walker says the bodies appear to have been left on the road ready to be picked up, and may have been shot on farmland or in the Gwavas forest.

Farmers have reported wheel marks on paddocks or on long grass by the side of the road.

Knox is urging people in rural areas to be vigilant and obtain vehicle registration numbers and descriptions whenever possible.

He advises people not to approach and challenge anyone suspected of poaching, but to call the police at 111.