Armed police, a dog team and Armed Offenders Squad AOS cordoned off the Star Flats in Karamu Rd, Hastings, and arrested one suspect from a King St robbery earlier yesterday. Photo/Duncan Brown.
Armed police, a dog team and Armed Offenders Squad AOS cordoned off the Star Flats in Karamu Rd, Hastings, and arrested one suspect from a King St robbery earlier yesterday. Photo/Duncan Brown.
A Hastings street was cordoned off, two schools went into lockdown and bystanders were warned ''you're not safe here'' after an alleged aggravated robbery yesterday.
A 32-year-old man has been arrested and police are seeking a second man following the incident that triggered an armed offenders callout and a lengthy standoff.
The almost seven-hour ordeal began at midday when police were called to Magpies Sports Bar and TAB on King St, following reports of offenders storming the building and demanding money.
Hawke's Bay Today understands the men had been pursued by police, then fled after abandoning a vehicle near Hastings' Boys High School.
It then became a waiting game, as Police and the Armed Offenders Squad were involved in a tense standoff on Karamu Rd, where the two allegedly armed offenders were holed-up inside Star Flats. Residents had been ushered out slowly, and a large crowd gathered at either end of the road.
Armed Police on Karamu Road South outside Hastings Central School with a Police armed offender in the background. Photo/Warren Buckland.
Allena Berry was visiting the region for a friends funeral and had been staying with her whanau in the residence.
''It was terrifying. There were 12 police officers, 8 armed offenders squad members and a dog squad.
''You see this kind of thing on TV but you never expect it to be on your front doorstep.''
Police had earlier warned a growing group of bystanders to move on.
''If this guy has got what we think he has got, you guys wouldn't be safe here,'' the officer warned.
Fire crews were also on the scene and it is believed a drone was sent up to survey the scene.
A woman who went into the bar during the incident said two men, dressed in black, were demanding money and that it was a ''freaky experience''.
She did not wish to be named but said she heard a woman screaming as one of the men was forcing her into the back room to get money.
''Give me the f****ing money ... this is a f***ing hold-up,'' she recalled one of the offenders shouting at the woman.
It is believed a shotgun was presented.
Parents waited anxiously by the gates of Hastings Central School and could see the faces of their children peering through the window of the office before they were released, class by class, to the Southampton St exit.
Parents receive their children as Hastings Central School comes out of lock down. Photo/Warren Buckland
One parent had been waiting since 1pm and had three children inside.
Principal Peter Ahern said the situation was controlled, with all 210 students present ''safe and sound'' during the lockdown.
They had been updating parents and caregivers via Facebook and Ahern said parents had been understanding of the situation.
Armed police were patrolling the school gates.
Hemesh Chandra found out the school his two children attended was in lockdown onlywhen he arrived to pick them up.
He said while he was worried for them, he was at peace knowing they were being looked after by their teachers.
Hemesh Chandra was happy to have his children back Nidhi Chandra (left) and Kairav Chandra after their school was locked down during an AOS callout at nearby apartments. Photo/Warren Buckland
His 10-year-old daughter, Nidhi Chandra, and 8-year-old son, Kairav Chandra, said they were scared and didn't know what was happening, but were occupied by going on the computers and playing games in the classrooms.
''We weren't allowed to go outside and we couldn't look out the windows,'' Nidhi said.
A teacher was heard comforting parents: ''They're all good. They're okay.''
About 3.30pm, one of the men walked from the Karamu Rd flat complex escorted by police, hugged family members and was allowed to smoke a cigarette held for him as he was handcuffed, before being taken into custody.
Berry saw the situation unfold and said his partner looked ''shocked''.
Zabeels Sports Bar & TAB owner, JJ Singh didn't see the robbery take place across the road but later saw on his CCTV, positioned outside what had unfolded.
''At 12.06pm, two men fully covered in black hoodies went inside the bar and they were there for a good two minutes.''
Just before 7pm last night police were no longer in the Karamu Rd/Pattison Rd area and all cordons had been stood down.
