Police are still seeking witnesses to an alleged series of assaults in Oamaru. Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen
Oamaru Police claim three violent incidents are isolated to one community within the town and those involved are known to each other.
Three people were injured in Oamaru in separate incidents over 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Police arrested a 27-year-old man on Wednesday in relation to the assaults.
He was charged with breaching release conditions, four counts of assault with intent to injure, wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and two counts of burglary.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said two of the alleged assaults happened at residential addresses while the third happened in a busy area where hockey games were being played nearby.
One of the incidents was at a residential address where school-aged children were inside during the attack, Woodbridge said.
A man was arrested but police were still investigating, he said.
Woodbridge said after one alleged assault of a woman by a man at Centennial Park, police received numerous calls reporting it.
He said the alleged incident would have been unsettling for those who witnessed it.
"It is rare and to see it happen in the public, around a lot of children, a lot of families who are out there enjoying sport and these cars both sped away quickly, that was dangerous and horrific for the people to see," Woodbridge said.
He said parents watching the hockey game filmed the incident.
While the male walked back to his car, a white station wagon allegedly drove at him.
Woodbridge said those involved in the alleged violence were known to each other and he wanted to reassure the public there was no danger to the wider community.
Police also wanted information from the public such as anything they may have witnessed or if they knew anyone involved.
He said no one else was seriously injured.
The 27-year-old appeared in the Oamaru District Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody.
His next court appearance is on 4 June.
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