KEY POINTS:
A Christchurch man's month on the run ended with the discovery of his hideout under the floorboards of an Invercargill house yesterday.
The Southland Times reported the police were tipped off that the man, who was wanted for breaching bail conditions, was at the house and the armed offenders squad found him about 11.30am.
Detective Sergeant Mark McCloy said it appeared the 33-year-old man had been staying at the house and had hidden under the floorboards before police arrived. Pepper spray was used to get him out.
"It was a very quick and very effective operation by the AOS," he said.
The man's partner lived at the house and he was believed to have been there for at least part of the time he had been in hiding, Mr McCloy said.
He will appear in the Invercargill District Court next week in relation to an assault in Invercargill on March 17.
Meanwhile, the man's 36-year-old partner appeared in Invercargill District Court yesterday charged with assisting him to avoid arrest, and with possessing a cannabis pipe. She was remanded in custody until Tuesday.
- NZPA
