The Australian: Cop ’pepper sprayed, rammed cyclist’
By staff writers | October 09, 2009
Article from: news.com.au
A NEW ZEALAND police officer has been accused of pepper spraying a cyclist who wasn’t wearing a helmet and later ramming him with his police car.
Senior Constable Garry Dunn, 45, was committed for trial following a two day depositions hearing in Nelson’s District Court, NZPA reports.
Sen-Constable Dunn has denied two counts of assaulting chef Shaun Robert Ian Taylor.
Mr Taylor told the court he was riding home when the police officer asked him to get off his bike because he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Sen-Constable Dunn reportedly stopped Mr Taylor again just minutes later when he caught the chef riding without a helmet for a second time.
An argument ensued, during which Mr Dunn allegedly pepper sprayed Mr Taylor.
Mr Taylor told the court the police officer later mounted a footpath and rammed him into a bank.
Sen-Constable Dunn’s lawyer Garry Barkle said Mr Taylor had been resisting arrest when he was pepper sprayed, according to NZPA.
