Embarrassing moment a female police officer sprinting after a suspect pepper sprays HERSELF in the face by accident - and is forced to stop to wipe her eyes as onlookers jeer
- New Zealand police officer pepper sprayed herself while chasing a suspect
- Footage of the incident shows onlookers jeering at police during the pursuit
- Another officer appears and runs after the target and tackles him to the ground
- Police car called to scene was held up behind convertible purposely driving slow
A police officer has accidentally pepper sprayed herself while chasing a fleeing suspect, almost allowing the man to escape.
Footage shared to social media shows several police officers in pursuit of a man on foot and in vehicles in Maraenui, New Zealand.
The video shows the man running from a female officer as a police car with wailing sirens follows and onlookers film and jeer.
A female police officer is seen chasing after a man and trying to pepper spray him
The officer missed her target as she continued to chase him before accidentally spraying herself, allowing the man to make a run for it
One witness could be heard yelling, 'run dad run' in the background as the man was pepper sprayed by the officer.
The officer missed her target as she continued to chase him before accidentally spraying herself, allowing the man to make a run for it.
But just seconds later he was tackled by another officer and arrested.
During the arrest, another police car that was called to the scene was held up behind a convertible driving slowly.
Another police officer chases after the man before tackling him to the ground and arresting him
The video has been viewed more than 30,000 times since it was first posted on Instagram six days ago.
Social media users commented on the post, laughing at the blunder.
'She pepper sprayed herself haha,' one wrote.
'Sign him up for the [New Zealand] Warriors. He ran more metres than their forward pack last week,' someone else joked.
A NZ Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that it's not uncommon for police officers to be affected by residual spray.
Another police car sent to the scene was held up behind a convertible purposely driving slowly
