Shots fired at police in chase

A 32-year-old Auckland man will appear in Tauranga District Court today on firearms and driving charges following a high-speed car chase overnight during which shots were fired at police.

The chase started following a driving complaint on State highway 2 near Katikati about 8.45pm and ended at Mount Maunganui two hours later.

Police at Tasman Aluminium today where a glass door was smashed before a vehicle stolen.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man at Marine Parade in Mount Maunganui.

During the chase shots were fired at police and at least three members of the public were confronted at gunpoint at the Baypark roundabout as the alleged gunman attempted to carjack a vehicle.

Western Bay of Plenty police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton says police are extremely pleased no one was injured in the 'extremely fast-moving and serious situation”.

'The priority for police staff was to try to contain the situation as quickly as possible and maximize the safety of the community.”

At about 8.45pm police received a driving complaint on SH2 near Katikati. The vehicle was found stopped at Whakamarama, but as police approached it drove off towards Tauranga.

A pursuit was initiated and road spikes were used to try and stop it.

A caller to SunLive says police chased the car down Fraser Street towards Greerton. Spikes were deployed at the Fraser Street and Chadwick Road roundabout.

Seventeen-year-old Bronte Sinclair was at home in The Avenues when she heard police sirens about 9.30pm.

'I opened my windows and you could hear all the sirens, then this car comes down 15th Avenue headed to Fraser Street – this silver Toyota went speeding by, something was definitely wrong with it, it sounded sick.

'Next minute about nine or ten police cars come speeding passed towards Fraser Street.”

The car continued towards Maungatapu at high speeds on its rims, getting to Baypark roundabout where the driver lost control. The vehicle came to a stop on the roundabout.

Shots were fired at police near Baypark when three police officers exited two police vehicles, says Clifford.

The front entrance to Tasman Aluminium today.

A man from the vehicle headed on foot into Truman Lane as members of the public started to exit the ASB Arena.

'Witness information is still being collated, but at this stage police are aware of attempts to take three vehicles from members of the public at gunpoint,” says Clifford.

A staff member at a nearby commercial building was then confronted by an armed man and a second vehicle was taken.

'An attempt was made by police to challenge him as he left but the vehicle failed to stop,” says Clifford.

A witness says the gunman entered a workshop and stole keys to a white Holden at gunpoint.

'He took the car back along the expressway and at some point threw a fire extinguisher at a police car. Then police lost him for about forty minutes.”

The vehicle was spiked and the officer deploying the spikes had to take action to avoid being struck by the vehicle. Police lost sight of the vehicle and initiated area searches.

It was seen near the Maungatapu bridge about 40 minutes later and another pursuit began.

The car was followed onto Marine Parade, where police say a firearm was presented out of the driver's window and has fallen to the ground.

The vehicle came to a stop a short time later and the driver was arrested near Tay Street.

The shotgun was recovered in Marine Parade and both spent and live ammunition was recovered in the area of Baypark.

The westbound land from the roundabout was closed until 2am while police conducted a scene examination under lights.

This morning a worker at Tasman Aluminium, who did not wish to be named, said the alleged gunman approached the warehouse on Truman Lane and smashed the glass door.

A sole worker inside was then told to hand over his keys to a vehicle at gunpoint.

Detectives are this morning speaking with the sole worker and have taped off the warehouse at Baypark.

Today police are asking for any witnesses to come forward not yet spoken to come forward.

'Although we have identified a number of members of the public, who were confronted in the Baypark area, we want to hear from anyone else who was caught up in the incident and has not yet spoken to police so that we can ensure they receive any welfare support that they might require,”

Anyone directly affected by this incident or anyone who has any information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300.

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