A man has died in police custody in Tauranga overnight following an incident where he was Tasered and pepper sprayed during an arrest.
At 12:32am, police spotted a vehicle of interest in the Mount Maunganui area linked to a man they were seeking. Police monitored the vehicle as it travelled through Mount Maunganui before the driver came to a stop on Kaniere Street.
The driver exited the vehicle and unsuccessfully attempted to flee on foot. He then got back into his vehicle and rammed a police vehicle in an attempt to leave the scene, Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Will Loughrin said.
A taser and pepper spray were deployed by officers in the process of arresting the man.
Following his arrest, the man was being transported to the Tauranga Police station when he became unresponsive during the journey.
