Man sparks armed police call-out

Police and Armed offenders squad members arrest a man on Bristol Street, in Tamatea, after he allegedly breached protection orders. Photo / Paul Taylor

A man who allegedly breached protection orders by going to a house in Tamatea yesterday morning ended up sparking a major police call-out, which included armed officers, as the man's behaviour had been described as "erratic".

The man was well known to police and one officer said it appeared he may have been on 'P'.

"He was also wanted on other matters," Eastern Police District communications manager Kris McGehan said.

The alarm was raised just before 10am by an occupant of the Rochester St house who, a short time later, was able to get out of the house unharmed.

A nearby neighbour, who said he had lived in the area for more than 40 years, said he heard "banging and yelling" coming form the house as he left to go out.

He arrived back a short time later to find Bristol St blocked by seven police cars and spikes laid across the road.

"Never had anything like this happen around here before," he said.

Like other residents, he was prevented from getting home while the man was in the house.

Police were unsure whether he was armed and that, along with his agitated state, meant they took no chances.

Both ends of Bristol St were blocked off, as was the entrance to nearby Norwich Cres, off Westminster Ave.

A dog team as well as the Armed Offenders Squad were turned out.

While it was not known if the man had access to a vehicle, that avenue of possible escape had also been covered with road spikes being laid out.

"We had conflicting reports about that - it was a very confusing situation," Ms McGehan said.

Some of those who stopped to watch what was happening said they suspected there was a gang link to the incident but police said that was not the case.

It had been sparked by the breach of protection order and the concerns of the family involved about the man's behaviour.

At 11.10am the handcuffed and barefooted man was walked from the house by two armed officers and seated on a nearby grass verge.

He was later taken to one of the police cars and began shouting - which led to some residents, watching from their houses in Bristol St, to shout back.

It took 30 minutes for police to ensure the area was all clear. The man was held in custody while enquiries continued and charges were likely to be laid today.