Paihia Four Square owner Bob Patel. Photo / John Stone
Paihia Four Square owner Bob Patel. Photo / John Stone
Paihia Four Square owner Bob Patel has told how he watched a man hold his assistant manager at knifepoint, fearing he could kill her at any minute.
Police responded to a call that a man was allegedly holding a knife to the throat of a worker at the store on Williams Rd, about 10.25am yesterday.
A 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with kidnapping and wounding with reckless disregard. He will appear in the Whangarei District Court today.
Mr Patel said that when he arrived at work through the back entrance a man had already been in the store for a number of minutes and was in an agitated state. "The guy said his life was in danger," Mr Patel said. "He didn't want to rob us or anything, he just wanted someone to hear him".
The man at one point walked around the staff-only area near the back entrance, where he allegedly picked up a 20cm knife used for cutting produce, Mr Patel said.
The man was asking for police and wanted everyone out of the store, Mr Patel said. At the time there were around 12-14 shoppers and five staff in the store.
While those in the store were fleeing, the man allegedly grabbed the assistant manager, put her in a headlock and held the knife to her throat, Mr Patel said.
Mr Patel alerted an officer at the police station two doors down and moved the public away from the store.
Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said three officers who were in the immediate area responded and were in the store during the crisis.
"Police staff have acted quickly and intuitively and have managed to speak to the man, managing to get him to surrender and prevent any further harm," Mr Robinson said. The officers spoke to the man for 15-20 minutes before he released the woman.
The 33-year-old woman was understandably very distressed and upset, Mr Robinson said.
"She received some minor lacerations to her neck as a result of the knife being held to her throat," he said. She was treated by St John but did not require further medical attention.
Mr Robinson said he was unsure of the exact details about the negotiation but in hostage situations officers firstly tried to keep everyone involved calm.
"Really, you're guided by the response of the individual," he said.
"There's really no set thing you're going to do."
Paihia Bakery owner Rasmey Ra said he closed the store, two doors down from Four Square, when the cordon was set up and waited inside with his wife.
"We are very scared," he said at the time. "It's not safe."
Alex Wehweck.
Alex Wehweck, manager of Boots Off internet cafe, four shops away from Four Square, said he and two customers were alerted to the situation by the large number of people on the street.
