UPDATE 9.16pm: Tauranga police have taken a man into custody following a pursuit and dangerous driving.

Shortly after 4.30pm on Sunday, police were called to investigate a man eating grass in the suburb of Otumoetai. On arrival a man ran into water and disappeared into nearby bush. He has allegedly entered a house, taking alcohol and a family vehicle.

Police search for a man who abandoned a stolen car. Photos: Cameron Avery.

The owner of the house and vehicle has injured his leg during the incident. Senior Sergeant Shannon Clifford, on hearing a female screaming, arrived to find the man taking the family's car.

The man drove the car at the Senior Sergeant, hitting him with an open door, and drove over a letterbox, narrowly avoiding a collision with a parked police vehicle.

Shortly afterwards, another police patrol spotted the man driving and tried to stop him.

He is understood to have fled at high speed and a tyre deflation device was deployed.

The driver allegedly drove directly at the police officer on foot, who had to run to safety.

The car continued over a roundabout, directly at a parked police patrol.

Fortunately the police driver managed to move the car to avoid being rammed. He continued onto Takitimu Drive, losing a tyre while driving on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic.

Police abandoned the pursuit due to extremely dangerous driving. Following information from the public, police arrived on Takitimu Drive, near Tauranga Golf Course, and found the vehicle abandoned. Cordons were then set up to contain the man.

At 6.50pm, police caught the male trying to run through their cordon. Senior Sergeant Clifford said: 'It was excellent work by all of my staff to contain the male within cordons and keep the public safe.

"I am relieved that no members of the public or my staff were injured during the incident.”

A 28 year old Tauranga man will appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow facing charges of disqualified driving, possession of offensive weapon, aggravated assault on police, reckless driving, failing to stop for police, 2 x assault with a weapon, burglary and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Earlier:

Update 7.15pm: The suspect sought in Tauranga has been taken into custody by police. They say the public can resume normal movements and be reassured that they are safe.

5.47pm: Tauranga Police are seeking the public's help to locate a man who allegedly stole a vehicle and rammed a police car.

At about 4.30pm, police went to Maxwell Road, Otumoetai to locate a man who was reported acting oddly.

The man had a metal bar and ran from Police. They say he stole a vehicle and rammed a police vehicle. He then allegedly tried to run down a police officer who was on foot.

The owner of the stolen car has apparently snapped his Achilles during the incident. Police pursued the vehicle but abandoned the pursuit shortly afterwards due to extreme danger.

Police received reports of this man driving the wrong way on Tauranga roads. The stolen vehicle has been found abandoned on Takitimu drive near the Tauranga Golf Club.

The man has run off and police are using dogs to track his location. The man is described as male Caucasian aged in his 30's, wearing no top, black shorts which appear to be falling down.

He has been described by some as having a large tattoo on his right side of abdomen. Police advise the public not to approach this man and ring 111 immediately.

"We ask that anyone who knows this man's identity or location to phone police immediately. We ask that the public avoid this area until the situation is resolved," says Inspector Kerry Watson Shift Commander Northern Police Communications Centre.

Earlier:

Police are currently trying to track down a driver of a car who was involved in a police chase in which he rammed a police car and attempted to run down an officer this afternoon.

The pursuit took place along Takitimu Drive and Toll Rd at about 5pm today. Reports from a member of the public says the driver used his car to ram a police vehicle who was involved in the pursuit. It is also understood the vehicle also attempted to run down a police officer.

The driver soon abandoned the car near Route K and police are now trying to track the person down. More details to follow as the come to hand.