It has also emerged that the speeding driver narrowly missed a pedestrian as he fled the scene after ramming the police car.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said the incident began when the man allegedly stole a VW vehicle from an address in Dunedin.
A police patrol spotted the VW speeding on the Southern Motorway at 10.30am, but the driver fled and ended up in a cul-de-sac on Green Island.
The driver continued to the parking lot of a commercial building, but realized there was no escape route, so he tried to drive back past a patrol car blocking the road.
“He drove into that police vehicle, hitting it and another parked vehicle, narrowly missing a company employee.
“The man then continued to drive out of the business, struck a third vehicle and continued driving.”
Police swarmed the area, set up cordons and began searching for the man who dumped the vehicle on Shanks St and fled on foot.
“While walking away he entered two residential addresses with a weapon with the intention of stealing another vehicle to help him escape, but he was unable to do so,” Snr said. Sergeant Bond.
Police arrested a 29-year-old man on Winifred Street and took him into custody.
The man failed an impairment test at the police station, Sergeant General Bond said.
“There were no injuries to police personnel or the public.”
Police are asking any witnesses to come forward, as well as anyone who has CCTV footage.
The man faced 13 charges ranging from burglary, driving while disqualified, failing to stop, unlawful entry and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Further charges were likely, Sergeant General Bond said.
The man was due to appear in Dunedin District Court tomorrow.