Man in kidnapping drama remanded

A 28-year-old West Auckland man accused of taking a hostage near Kumeu has been remanded in custody for a psychiatric assessment.

Aaron Wilson appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday afternoon after his release from hospital, where he had been since the incident on Monday.

He is charged with using a firearm against a police officer, kidnapping, conversion of a vehicle, resisting police, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

At 12.30pm on Monday Wilson allegedly failed to stop at a traffic checkpoint in Lincoln Rd, Henderson.

Police chased him to State Highway 16, just south of Kumeu, where he pulled over to the side of the road after running out of petrol.

Police say he then held a woman hostage at gunpoint in the car for 3 1/2 hours, despite repeated calls to surrender.

After a distraction device was used to briefly stun him, Wilson was removed from the car by police with a dog.

He was taken to Waitakere Hospital that night to be treated for dog bites on his legs, and was kept in for further observation because of a substance he had taken.

Wilson was remanded in custody until the end of May, when he is due back in court after a psychiatric assessment.