Police release name, photo of second fugitive

Lou Ape Cooper sparked an AOS callout in Kawakawa on Tuesday. Photo / Supplied

Police are calling on the public to help them catch two Far North men who went on the run after sparking separate callouts by the police Armed Offenders Squad this week.

Yesterday police released the name and a photo of the second fugitive, Lou Ape Cooper, 32, who is wanted for breaching his court release conditions.

Police also want to speak to him about another matter, which is understood to be a serious assault.

Lou Ape Cooper sparked an AOS callout in Kawakawa on Tuesday. Photo / Supplied

According to witnesses, police officer spotted Cooper on the main street of Kawakawa around noon on Tuesday. He fled on foot around the back of Carters tyre shop and across paddocks towards Kawakawa River.

Police initially closed off North Rd and posted lookouts on bridges across the river and Waiomio Stream in case he had jumped into the water.

AOS officers searched a house on Paihia Rd around 2pm, then put cordons back up again after a reported second sighting of Cooper around 3pm.

Police stopped cars entering North Rd in Kawakawa while they searched for Lou Cooper. Photo /Peter De Graaf

Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson said Cooper was actively avoiding police, was considered dangerous and should not be approached.

''If you know where he is then please call 111 immediately,'' he said. Information could also be passed to Whangarei station on (09) 430 4500 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police are also still looking for Rawiri Ihaka, 44, after an incident in Ahipara on Monday in which shots were fired at a house on Takahe St.

Rawiri Ihaka is wanted in relation to Monday's incident in Ahipara. Photo / Supplied

It is thought Ihaka abandoned his car on Foreshore Rd and fled on foot towards the Ahipara Gumfields.

Mr Ihaka was described as being of medium build and 182cm tall with a cross tattooed on his right forearm.