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Two police officers were forced to take evasive action when they were confronted by a man swinging an axe in Napier early today.
One officer managed to get out of the way, so the man turned his attention to the other officer, who got behind a parked car, Senior Sergeant Andy Sloane said.
The man's associates then managed get the axe off him before he ran into a nearby property.
When he approached the two officers again shortly afterwards, he was pepper sprayed and handcuffed.
The man is due to appear in court tomorrow facing two charges of assault with a weapon.
Mr Sloane said the incident happened after police were called to McGrath St about 3.45am by residents concerned about a group of people milling around vehicles in the street.
When the two officers were talking to the group and taking down details, the man ran at them from "out of nowhere" with the axe.
He praised the officers for the way they handled the situation and said the pair had come through the incident "as good as gold".
- NZPA
