A woman was arrested in Whangārei after allegedly trying to escape police by jumping into the Hātea River on Thursday afternoon.
According to Whangārei-Kaipara Area Commander Inspector Maria Nordstrom, the incident began around 3.45pm when an off-duty police officer spotted a woman wanted by authorities at the Whangārei Aquatic Centre. The officer alerted on-duty staff, who arrived at the scene to take her into custody.
“It was at this point the woman fled and jumped into the Hātea River in an attempt to avoid being taken into custody," said Nordstrom, 1News has quoted.
Police said the woman swam under a nearby bridge before a member of the public, who was on a waka ama boat, threw her a life jacket to help keep her afloat.
She then swam to a moored boat, where officers arrested her without further incident, 1News has reported.
Nordstrom said the woman later admitted to police that she regretted jumping into the river.
The 44-year-old is due to appear in the Whangārei District Court today, charged with breaching release conditions, as reported by 1News.