Person on run, armed police block Havelock North roads

Police near the intersection of Thompson and Davidson Rds. Photo / Warren Buckland

Armed police interrupted a toddler's birthday party and cordoned off roads near Havelock North as they searched for a person now on the run.

The Armed Offenders Squad could be seen in the area near Thompson Rd and its intersections with Davidson and Napier Rds about 8.30am.

A police spokesperson said they were executing a search warrant in the area.

"The person we were looking for was not located so no arrests made. AOS were deployed as a precaution (not uncommon when warrants are being executed)."

Police were later seen cordoning off the Te Aute Rd area, near Lipscombe Cres, in what is believed to have been a second attempt to look for the offender.

Police were executing a search warrant near Napier Rd.

A resident along Napier Rd, who did not want to be named, said "whatever it was, it was serious".

"From what I understand there were reports of someone threatening police on Thompson Rd."

He said by about 9.30am police seemed to be leaving the area and the cordons on Thompson Rd seemed to have been lifted.

Cordons remained in place at Lipscombe Cres until about 11am.

A resident on Thompson Rd, who did not wish to be named, had several visitors over for her toddler's birthday party at the time of the warrant.

The 10 children and several adults were asked to stay inside by armed police from about 8.30am, she said.

She said it was quite overwhelming but the police had been really calm, which had helped.

"They were everywhere.

"It wasn't scary. It was more like 'what was happening?'."

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