Bailiff collection ends with arrest

CALLOUT: Members of the Armed Offenders Squad leave the scene after the arrest of a man who allegedly pointed a gun at a court bailiff.

A Mid North man is due in court today after sparking an Armed Offenders Squad callout when he allegedly pointed a rifle at a bailiff.

The drama began about 10.50am yesterday when a court bailiff tried to seize property at a home on Koropewa Rd, off Pungaere Rd just north of Waipapa. It's understood the bailiff was executing a court-ordered warrant.

However, Kerikeri police Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said an altercation occurred in which an occupant of the address allegedly presented a firearm at the bailiff.

Mr Robinson said the bailiff was not physically injured. Several other people were in the house.

A large number of uniformed police came from as far away as Mangonui and Kawakawa. They were joined by 10 members of the Armed Offenders Squad, a police dog and a specialist negotiating team from Whangarei.

Armed police used vehicles and road spikes to block Koropewa and Ngapuhi Rds, which form a loop off Pungaere Rd. Another officer stood guard overlooking farmland opposite Riverstream Rd in case the suspect tried to flee on foot.

The road blocks were lifted at 2.35pm after a man was arrested without any shots fired. He was taken to Kerikeri police station, was expected to be held in the Whangarei police cells overnight and appear in the Kaikohe District Court this morning.