Three men are on the run in Levin after overpowering an officer and absconding from police transport.
Wiremu Eparaima, 30, Te Wera Hemara, 27, and Emmanuel Witana, 23, were being placed in to transport at Levin District Court when "an offender restrained one of the officers in order to aid in the escape of three other offenders" police said in a statement.
The three ran from the station and got into a car of a passerby, demanding that he drive away.
A short time later, they got out of the car and left on foot.
One witness wrote on Facebook that they saw the men enter the car.
"I watched them jump into the car parked in front of me in the Countdown carpark, thought at the time it was odd. Then comes [a] cop car with lights on. Drove past the cop shop and roller door was up and stuff smashed on the floor."
Police said they didn't want to unduly concern members of the public but urged anyone with any information to call 111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
They said they were "committed to locating and arresting these offenders as quickly as possible".
Anyone seeing the men were warned not to approach them.
Newshub.
