On the evening of September 27, several Long Beach residents called police to report an erratic driver who was causing concern to the small beach-side community north of Dunedin.
Jeremy Phillip Clark (49) had been consuming pre-mixed bourbon beverages before reportedly being victimised in a physical altercation in Driver St, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
Counsel Libby Hadlow said Clark got behind the wheel in an attempt to de-escalate a violent situation.
"What other options were available to him? Has he got a phone?" Judge Michael Turner asked.
When police attempted to apprehend the man, he increased his speed and turned his headlights off, causing them to lose sight of his vehicle.
After hitting a kerb in a dead-end road, the car came to a stop.
Clark was covered in blood, having suffered a head wound, and was combative with police, the court heard.
The judge did not accept Clark’s head injury was caused by an assault — noting blood was found on the interior of the front windscreen, which had been heavily damaged.
Attending officers believed Clark’s head had struck the windscreen when his car hit the kerb.
A "50 bag" of cannabis was located inside the car and a breath screening test revealed an alcohol level of 600mcg — more than twice the legal limit.
Clark told police he had considered ramming their vehicle.
He had a criminal history that ran for more than 23 pages, and had been the catalyst for two previous armed offender squad callouts in 2015, sparking a man hunt when he was believed to be armed and dangerous.
Clark was charged with aggravated drink-driving, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving and cannabis possession.
He was sentenced to six weeks’ community detention and nine months’ supervision and disqualified from driving until March 2025.
