An officer was punched in the head about eight or 10 times while attempting to arrest a 17-year-old in the Octagon, Dunedin, at the weekend, police say.
Sergeant Paul McLaughlan said the constable was attempting to handcuff the youth about 1am after arresting him for breaching the central city liquor ban, when the youth punched the officer repeatedly before running off.
The constable and a female officer gave chase and caught him a short distance away.
The youth was pepper-sprayed before being handcuffed.
The officer received minor bruises and abrasions not requiring hospital treatment.
The assault is at least the second serious assault on southern police in the past month.
In February, an Oamaru constable was admitted to hospital with facial, elbow and knee injuries after he was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked after a young motorist failed a breath test.
A 17-year-old Milton youth appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on charges of aggravated assault and breaching the liquor ban in relation to the incident in the Octagon at the weekend.
He was remanded in custody by consent to March 16.
