Northland man charged with injuring police dog, drug-related offences
Photo:
RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A Northland man has appeared in court charged with injuring a police dog and a raft of drug-related offences.
Marshall James Dennis Joyce was arrested after a traffic stop in Whangārei early on Sunday morning escalated into what police described as a violent assault.
The 47-year-old Ruakākā man was charged with assaulting police, injuring a police dog, possession for supply of methamphetamine and cannabis, possession of cocaine and LSD, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
He was remanded in custody after Monday's appearance in the Whangārei District Court. He is due back for a list hearing by audio-visual link on 13 August.
Police said the dog suffered an eye injury and underwent urgent veterinary treatment. Its current condition is not known.
Earlier, Northland's top cop, Superintendent Matt Srhoj, said a police dog handler stopped a car on Kahiwi Street, in the suburb of Raumanga, just before 4.30am on 20 July.
The dog handler spotted drug paraphernalia inside the car but the driver became aggressive before a search could be carried out.
Srhoj said extra officers were sent to the scene as his aggression escalated, with pepper spray, a taser and the police dog all deployed.
As well as methamphetamine, LSD tabs, cannabis and cocaine, police seized more than $5000 in cash.
Srhoj said it was fortunate the police officer was not seriously injured, but the dog suffered a scratch to one eye and required urgent treatment.
The 47-year-old man sustained minor injuries and was taken to Whangārei Hospital.
Srhoj praised the officers who rushed to the scene to support their colleague.
"We have no tolerance for unprovoked violence, especially directed to our staff who are just doing their jobs," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Watch: NZ man sentenced for drunken assault during Perth-Auckland flight
A New Zealand man has been sentenced for drunkenly assaulting two airline crew on a flight from Perth to Auckland. His actions resulted in the plane being diverted to Melbourne. This week, the 23-year-old was sentenced by the County Court of Victoria to six months' imprisonment, to be released immediately on a two-year good behaviour bond. He was also ordered to pay the airline $10,824 (NZ$11,834) in compensation. Australian Federal Police were called to reports of an intoxicated and disruptive passenger on 23 October, 2024. The man refused to comply with requests from two crew members and assaulted both, causing minor injuries. Police said officers boarded the plane once it landed at Melbourne Aircraft and removed the passenger, who had been restrained at the back of the aircraft. He pleaded guilty on 17 April, 2025, to two counts of assaulting crew of an aircraft. Detective Superintendent Stephen Cook said airline staff deserved to feel safe in their workplace and not be subjected to violence and aggression from passengers . "Anti-social behaviour during a flight can pose a direct threat to the safety of the aircraft, and in this instance, also inconvenience passengers onboard," he said. "The AFP works closely with the airline industry to intervene if anyone's behaviour interferes with the safety of workers or the public in or around an airport, or on flights." Officers boarded the plane once it landed at Melbourne Aircraft and removed the passenger, who had been restrained at the back of the aircraft. Photo: Supplied / Australian Federal Police Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Search underway for elderly woman missing from Bishopdale, Christchurch
Beryl is missing from the Christchurch suburb of Bishopdale. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police A search is underway for a 79-year-old who was reported missing in the Christchurch suburb of Bishopdale on Thursday afternoon. Police said that the woman named Beryl had a medical condition and that officers and her family were concerned for her well-being. She was last seen wearing a grey or light green hoodie and dark blue trackpants. Anyone who has any information on her whereabouts is urged to call police on 105. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
Man fined $400 for harassing sea lion in the Catlins
A sea lion at Surat Bay Beach in the Catlins. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf A Southland man has been fined $400 for harassing a sea lion in an incident that appalled nature lovers in the Catlins earlier this year. In January, residents of Tautuku Beach, on the south Otago coast, reported seeing a group of motorists and trail bike riders taunting a sea lion for two successive days. A ranger's report obtained by RNZ stated a ute was repeatedly driven at the sea lion, with the driver using the clutch and brakes to "lunge" towards the animal and provoke it into responding. Riders were also seen driving in circles around the sea lion. At the time the Department of Conservation (DOC) said it was making enquiries after being provided with a vehicle's licence plate details. This week DOC Murihiku operations manager John McCarroll told RNZ a Southland man had since admitted to his involvement in the Tautuku Beach incident. "After speaking to this person and a neutral witness, we are satisfied that there was no contact with the sea lion at any stage, nor were there "doughnuts" performed around the sea lion on the vehicle's departure," he said. "After legal review, a $400 infringement notice was issued to the offender for disturbing a sea lion, in breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978." The incident led to calls - including by outgoing mayor Brian Cadogan - to reconsider banning vehicles from Catlins beaches. A ban was proposed by the Clutha District Council in 2023 but dropped following a social media backlash. Councillors will now revisit the issue after the October local elections. The Tautuku Beach incident is only one of many involving endangered sea lions in the Catlins, a stretch of coast renowned for its wildlife. Tautuku Bay in the Catlins, which some locals told RNZ was "treated like a racetrack" by four-wheel-drive enthusiasts. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf In October last year a female known as Jade was shot, followed by her pup a few days later. The pup was left to a lingering death in the Catlins Estuary. In November a third sea lion was stabbed on Waipati Beach and had to be euthanised. That prompted the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust to double its reward for information about the killings to $12,000. The initial report about the Tautuku Beach incident stated the motorists had left by the time rangers arrived and the sea lion was dead. However, a necroscopy found the animal died of other causes, most likely from injuries inflicted by another sea lion. It could also not be confirmed whether the dead sea lion was the same one that was being harassed earlier. Only about 12,000 New Zealand sea lions remain, making it the world's rarest sea lion species.
