A man has been charged over allegedly trying to steal a police officer’s personal vehicle on the Mid North Coast this morning.
The senior policeman was walking towards his Mitsubishi Triton ute just after 4 o’clock this morning, to travel to work from his home at Sapphire Beach.
As he opened the ute, he noticed a 21-year-old man behind the driver’s seat.
The officer tried to arrest the man, who struggled before punching and kicking the policeman several times.
The 21-year-old released the vehicle’s handbrake causing it collide with a parked car, and a nearby residence.
The man was eventually able to be restrained by the officer before other officers arrived.
During the struggle, the senior officer suffered a hand fracture.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a large, hunting knife on the front passenger seat.
The man was arrested, and charged with a string of offences at Coffs Harbour Police Station.
He was refused bail to face Port Macquarie Local Court today.
