Police in long distance pursuit on fleeing driver: 'We caught him' - Police

DEVELOPING NEWS: A 20 year old man is in custody after a 100km police pursuit in the Northland area this morning.

The driver failed to stop at a alcohol checkpoint, instead driving off.

They allege the man drove his car through the checkpoint on the wrong side of the road, refusing to stop for uniformed officers.

They then launched a pursuit and attempted to stop the car as it travelled south on State Highway 1.

At one stage they deployed tyre deflation devices which successfully punctured all four tyres.

But the driver still refused to stop, continuing to drive for some distance on just the rims of the car's wheels.

Police eventually forced the car off the road near Warkworth.

A statement from Whangarei police said a hunting knife and a mask were allegedly found in the car and that police ''believe unresolved family problems may have led him to behave in this manner''.

The 20-year-old Whangarei man was arrested and charged with possessing an offensive weapon, dangerous driving and failing to stop.