Man accused of Pirongia attack released without charge

Armed police were called out after a woman accused her husband of threatening her with a firearm while they were in the car. File photo / NZ Herald

A Pirongia man who was taken into custody by armed police after his drug-affected wife accused him of threatening her with a firearm has been released without charge.

Police were called to a service station in Pirongia at about 5.45am by a woman who told them her husband had threatened her with a firearm while they in a car together.

Pirongia Primary School was placed on lockdown as armed offenders squad members and local police tracked man to a Beechy St house.

He soon gave himself to armed police around the corner from the property.

Senior Sergeant Pete van de Wetering the man was released after being interviewed.

His wife was being held in the Hamilton Central Police Station under observation to detox from using methamphetamine, Mr Wetering said.

It has hoped she would be referred for medical and psychological assessment once she had sobered, he said.

"Situations such as this morning's are unfortunate in that they disrupt the activities of many people needlessly.

"Police take all reports of domestic violence seriously, let alone ones involving firearms and in such situations have to respond with a managed and appropriately scaled response designed to cope with the worst possible scenario. Fortunately in this case any potential tragedy was avoided."

A number of items pointing to unlawful use of illicit substances had been found at the Beechy St property linked to the incident, Mr van de Wetering.

Despite that, no charges were going to be laid, he said.

"The focus now is working to ensure the woman is afforded the help that she needs to address any domestic issues and to help with the drug related problems she is currently suffering from."

- HERALD ONLINE