A man allegedly pointed a pump-action shotgun at a South Auckland resident in the early morning and was found with gun cartridges and cannabis when police arrested him.
Inspector David Christoffersen said police got a report of the incident in Manurewa at 12.30am yesterday.
The alleged offender approached a resident of an apartment complex and, after a brief chat, got a gun out of his car and pointed it at them, Christiffersen said.
The man then fled the scene, he said.
Police spotted the car outside an address in Māngere about eight hours later, he said.
“The police Eagle helicopter observed the property on Manston Rd as ground units prepared to approach the address,” Chrisoffersen said.
Officers saw the man get out of his car and then swooped in to arrest him.
Police searched the vehicle and found “an amount” of cannabis in the boot.
Officers found “a number of” shotgun cartridges inside his house.
The 33-year-old was due to appear in the Manukau District Court today on charges of presenting a firearm at a person, three counts of unlawfully possessing a firearm or explosives and possessing cannabis for supply.
“It’s a pleasing outcome that we have been able to catch up with the alleged offender and take another firearm out of circulation in the community,” Christoffersen said.
“We simply won’t tolerate this type of reckless behaviour, and police will continue to prosecute those perpetrating this sort of violence,” he said.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
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