Accused gunman faces nine charges

A 35-year-old man faced nine charges in court yesterday after a firearm was allegedly pointed at police.

The Nelson man was charged with assaulting a female, threatening to kill, two counts of intentional damage, being intoxicated in charge of a firearm, unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a house and arson.

He was granted name suppression and was due to reappear in Nelson District court on January 6.

Senior Sergeant Stuart Koefoed said police cordoned off part of the Nelson suburb of Tahunanui Hills for about three hours from 5pm on Monday after being called to a house by residents who thought they heard shots being fired.

Mr Koefoed said the man was arrested within an hour of police arriving.

The sound of gunfire was generated by a pile of ammunition and a vehicle being set alight at the property.

At least three people, including children, were believed to have been at the house with the alleged offender.

"It doesn't appear they were able to leave, but this is still being investigated," Mr Koefoed said.

 

No one was hurt in the incident, but roads were blocked and several people were evacuated from neighbouring homes.

The Fire Service put out the fires, and helped clear teargas used at the scene.

Police were also called to a second unrelated firearms incident in Nelson on Monday after a man allegedly pointed an air rifle at a neighbour during a dispute.

Mr Koefoed said police recovered a loaded air rifle from the scene and arrested a 23-year-old Nelson man.

The man appeared in Nelson District Court yesterday charged with presenting an air rifle at a person and was remanded in custody to reappear on January 31.

- NZPA