Warning lifted after armed incident

UPDATED 4PM: Waikato Police are currently speaking to a man following an alleged armed incident near the Hauraki settlement of Puriri today.

Thames-Coromandel CIB Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Martyn Hughes says emergency services were alerted to reports of shots being fired at a Neavesville Valley property about 1.35pm.

"Initial reports were that a firearm was pointed by a man at a neighbour after that person went outside to investigate the noise of several shots," he says.

"As a result local Police converged on the area and requested the assistance of the Waikato Armed Offenders Squad, a team of police negotiators and the Auckland-based Eagle helicopter."

Police asked people to avoid travelling between Thames and Paeroa while the operation took place.

Martyn says once the area was cordoned and contained and a voice appeal was commenced.

"As a result of that the AOS have cleared the property and we are now speaking to a 69-year-old man from that address to establish just what, if any, offences have been committed.

"Situations like today's are always fraught with risk and Police have to consider the worse possible scenarios.

"Because of this cordons have to be established and access to areas restricted inconveniencing large numbers of people but this is always done with the safety of the public in mind."

He says Police supported the safe, lawful use of firearms and asked all shooters to consider the environment in which they are operating and who may be affected by their shooting.

Earlier:

Police are asking people to avoid travelling between Thames and Paeroa this afternoon as a major policing operation takes place.

Details of the operation are limited but Waikato Police communications manager Andrew McAlley says road closures are in place on SH26, particularly at the intersection of SH26 (Paeroa-Kopu Rd) and SH25A.

'Information will be made available as more comes to light.”

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1 comment

Over kill

Posted on 03-09-2014 19:54 | By Bog farm

There were no firearms pointed at any neighbours on the Neavesville road to day.


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